Final answer:
Common splints for soft tissue injuries of the hand and wrist include a thumb spica splint or a wrist brace, which immobilize the injured area to facilitate healing. The specific type of splint depends on the particular injury, such as poor blood supply in scaphoid fractures or the specific needs of a Colles fracture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The splint used for soft tissue injuries of the hand and wrist is variable depending on the specific injury, location, and severity. However, commonly used splints for injuries such as a fracture of the scaphoid bone include a thumb spica splint or a wrist brace. The thumb spica splint immobilizes the thumb and wrist joint, which is essential due to the poor blood supply to the scaphoid that may result in slow healing. In the case of a Colles fracture, which is a transverse fracture of the distal radius resulting in a characteristic "dinner fork" deformity, a cast or a specific form of splinting to immobilize the wrist and forearm may be necessary. Additionally, soft tissue injuries requiring immobilization of the wrist may benefit from splints that target the superficial anterior compartment of the forearm which functions in wrist flexion and abduction.