In general, musculoskeletal injuries should be splinted before moving the patient unless:

Musculoskeletal injuries typically require splinting to stabilize the affected area and prevent further injury during transport. However, if the patient is clinically unstable, immediate transport is prioritized over splinting. Clinically unstable patients may present with life-threatening conditions such as severe hemorrhage, respiratory distress, or altered mental status. In such scenarios, the risks associated with delaying transport to apply splints outweigh the benefits, as the patient may need urgent medical intervention that cannot be postponed.

In situations where transport time is short, the patient is in severe pain, or there are visible deformities and swelling, splinting may still be beneficial for comfort and stability, but it is less critical than addressing the immediate stability of the patient's overall condition. Therefore, the decision to forego splinting in favor of rapid transport hinges on the patient’s overall clinical status rather than the specifics of their musculoskeletal injury.