Water Temperature Effect on Flexural Strength of Posterior Ankle Splint: An Experimental Study

Plaster of Paris splints are commonly utilised for foot and ankle injuries. However, during follow-ups, some of these splints were found to be broken. Various methods, including splint form or augmentation changes, have been explored to enhance flexural strength. However, the impact of water temperature on the splint's flexural strength still needs to be studied. This research aimed to investigate the effect of water temperature on the flexural strength of the Plaster of Paris splint.

Three groups were set up based on different water temperatures: cold, hot, and room temperature. Posterior ankle splints were created and immersed in water at these varying temperatures, with five pieces tested per group. The splints were then allowed to harden fully over three days. Each splint underwent a tensile strength test using an axial pressure machine, which recorded their flexural strength data.

There were no statistically significant differences in the general characteristics of the splints. The flexural strengths of the three splint groups (pre-cooled, pre-heated, and room temperature) were 182.6N, 162.45N, and 228.91N, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that room-temperature splints demonstrated a statistically significant increase in flexural strength compared to pre-heated splints (p<0.05). However, they did not differ significantly from pre-cooled splints.

The highest flexural strength was observed in splints immersed in room-temperature water.