Allen Collins playing guitar in the hospital days after Skynyrd plane crash

Do you think they were doing this to set his arm at the most comfortable position to play if the injuries would limit his mobility? I can't remember who it was but I seem to recall an artist doing this after a car crash.

I wonder if that's a bandit he's playing through. Am I seeing a ligament in his arm inside the gash? Gnarly!!

Making sure they had his arm set so he could play in case he eventually lost range of motion.