What is the difference between a splint and a cast?

• A. A splint is rigid and non-removable; a cast is removable
• B. A splint is removable and often adjustable; a cast is rigid and non-removable once set
• C. A cast is adjustable; a splint is fixed
• D. Both are identical in immobilization

Answer: (B)

The difference lies in how these immobilization devices handle swelling, rigidity, and removability. A splint is designed for temporary immobilization that can be adjusted as swelling changes and is typically removable or easily taken off for skin checks and dressing changes. This makes it well-suited for the early, swelling-heavy phase after an injury. A cast, on the other hand, is created by surrounding the limb with plaster or fiberglass and then allowing it to harden into a rigid, non-removable form once set, providing steady, longer-lasting immobilization.

So the correct description—splints being removable and often adjustable, and casts being rigid and non-removable once set—captures these practical differences. The other statements mix up these properties (for example, splints being described as rigid and non-removable, or casts as adjustable), which doesn’t reflect how they’re used in medical care.