Final answer:
Casts and splints are used to treat fractures and immobilize the injured area to facilitate proper healing. Splints are typically used for less severe injuries or before swelling subsides, while casts are used for more significant immobilization. They support the healing process by protecting injured tissues as the body undergoes natural bone repair and remodeling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Casts and splints are used to treat fractures, immobilize an area, and prevent movement. Splints serve a similar purpose to casts but are typically used for more minor injuries or in the initial stages following a fracture before swelling goes down. Casts and splints support and protect injured bones and soft tissue, allowing them to heal properly.
Most ankle sprains can be treated using the RICE technique: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. For more severe injuries, such as those involving ligament tears or bone fractures, reducing joint mobility with a brace or cast might be necessary. In cases involving significant bone fractures, medical procedures like closed reduction or open reduction could be required, followed by immobilization using casts or splints.
Fractured bones may go through a process involving the formation of a hematoma, followed by internal and external calli formation. Osteoclasts help in resorbing dead bone, and osteoblasts build new bone to replace the cartilage in the calli, culminating in the bone remodelling phase to complete the healing process. The immobilization provided by casts and splints is crucial to ensure proper healing.