How To Put On A Cast

Cast Types and Care Instructions

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions about covering your kid's cast with plastic to go on it from getting wet.

What is a cast?

A cast holds a broken bone in identify equally it heals. Casts also assistance to prevent or decrease muscle contractions, and are effective at providing immobilization, especially after surgery.

Casts immobilize the articulation above and the joint beneath the surface area that is to be kept straight and without motion. For example, a child with a forearm fracture will have a long arm cast to immobilize the wrist and elbow joints.

What are casts made of?

The outside, or difficult function of the cast, is fabricated from ii different kinds of casting materials.

• Plaster (white in color)

• Fiberglass (comes in a diversity of colors, patterns, and designs)

Cotton and other synthetic materials are used to line the inside of the cast to get in soft and to provide padding around bony areas, such as the wrist or elbow.

Special waterproof cast liners may be used under a fiberglass cast, allowing the child to get the cast wet. Talk with your kid's healthcare provider for special cast care instructions for this type of cast.

What are the different types of casts?

Below is a clarification of the various types of casts, the location of the body they are applied, and their general function.

Type of cast	Location	Uses
Curt arm cast	Practical below the elbow to the hand.	Forearm or wrist fractures. Likewise used to concord the forearm or wrist muscles and tendons in place later on surgery.
Long arm bandage	Applied from the upper arm to the paw.	Upper arm, elbow, or forearm fractures. Also used to concur the arm or elbow muscles and tendons in place after surgery.
Arm cylinder cast	Applied from the upper arm to the wrist.	To concur the elbow muscles and tendons in identify afterwards a dislocation or surgery.

Type of cast	Location	Uses
Shoulder spica cast	Practical effectually the torso of the body to the shoulder, arm, and manus.	Shoulder dislocations or after surgery on the shoulder area.
Minerva cast	Applied around the neck and torso of the torso.	Later on surgery on the neck or upper back expanse.
Short leg bandage	Applied to the expanse below the genu to the foot.	Lower leg fractures, severe ankle sprains and strains, or fractures. Also used to hold the leg or human foot muscles and tendons in place afterward surgery to allow healing.
Leg cylinder cast	Applied from the upper thigh to the ankle.	Articulatio genus, or lower leg fractures, knee dislocations, or after surgery on the leg or knee area.

Type of cast	Location	Uses
Unilateral hip spica cast	Applied from the chest to the pes on one leg.	Thigh fractures. Also used to concur the hip or thigh muscles and tendons in place later surgery to permit healing.
Ane and i-half hip spica cast	Applied from the chest to the foot on ane leg to the knee of the other leg. A bar is placed between both legs to keep the hips and legs immobilized.	Thigh fracture. As well used to hold the hip or thigh muscles and tendons in place after surgery to allow healing.
Bilateral long leg hip spica bandage	Applied from the chest to the feet. A bar is placed betwixt both legs to keep the hips and legs immobilized.	Pelvis, hip, or thigh fractures. Too used to hold the hip or thigh muscles and tendons in identify after surgery to allow healing.

Blazon of cast	Location	Uses
Short leg hip spica cast	Applied from the breast to the thighs or knees.	To concur the hip muscles and tendons in identify after surgery to allow healing.

Type of bandage	Location	Uses
Abduction boot cast	Applied from the upper thighs to the feet. A bar is placed between both legs to keep the hips and legs immobilized.	To concur the hip muscles and tendons in identify afterwards surgery to allow healing.

How can my child motion effectually while in a cast?

Assistive devices for children with casts include:

• Crutches

• Walkers

• Wagons

• Wheelchairs

• Reclining wheelchairs

Cast care instructions

• Keep the cast clean and dry.

• Bank check for cracks or breaks in the cast.

• Rough edges tin can exist padded to protect the skin from scratches.

• Don't scratch the skin under the cast past putting objects inside the bandage.

• Can use a hairdryer placed on a absurd setting to blow air under the cast and absurd down the hot, itchy skin. Never blow warm or hot air into the cast.

• Don't put powders or balm within the cast.

• Encompass the cast while your kid is eating to prevent nutrient spills and crumbs from entering the cast.

• Prevent pocket-size toys or objects from beingness put inside the bandage.

• Heighten the cast in a higher place centre level to decrease swelling.

• Encourage your kid to move his or her fingers or toes to promote circulation.

• Don't use the abduction bar on the cast to lift or bear the child.

Older children with body casts may demand to use a bedpan or urinal to become to the bathroom. Tips to keep body casts clean and dry out and prevent skin irritation around the genital expanse include the following:

• Apply a diaper or sanitary napkin around the genital surface area to foreclose leakage or splashing of urine.

• Place toilet paper inside the bedpan to forbid urine from splashing onto the cast or bed.

• Keep the genital area equally clean and dry out equally possible to prevent pare irritation.

When to call your child'south healthcare provider

Contact your child'south healthcare provider if your child has whatever of these symptoms:

• Fever (meet "Fever and children" beneath)

• Chills

• Increased hurting

• Increased swelling above or below the cast

• Decreased ability to motion toes or fingers

• Complaints of numbness or tingling

• Drainage or bad odor from the bandage

• Absurd or common cold fingers or toes

• The cast becomes wet or dirty

• Blister, sores, or a rash develop nether the cast

Fever and children

Always use a digital thermometer to check your child's temperature. Never use a mercury thermometer.

For infants and toddlers, exist sure to use a rectal thermometer correctly. A rectal thermometer may accidentally poke a hole in (perforate) the rectum. It may likewise pass on germs from the stool. E'er follow the production maker'due south directions for proper utilize. If you don't feel comfortable taking a rectal temperature, use another method. When you talk to your child'south healthcare provider, tell him or her which method you used to take your kid's temperature.

Here are guidelines for fever temperature. Ear temperatures aren't accurate before 6 months of age. Don't take an oral temperature until your kid is at least 4 years onetime.

Infant under 3 months old:

• Ask your child's healthcare provider how y'all should take the temperature.

• Rectal or forehead (temporal artery) temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by the provider

• Armpit temperature of 99°F (37.2°C) or higher, or as directed by the provider

Child age iii to 36 months:

• Rectal, forehead, or ear temperature of 102°F (38.ix°C) or higher, or every bit directed by the provider

• Armpit (axillary) temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher, or equally directed by the provider

Child of whatsoever historic period:

• Repeated temperature of 104°F (40°C) or college, or equally directed by the provider

• Fever that lasts more than 24 hours in a child nether 2 years old. Or a fever that lasts for three days in a child ii years or older.

Source: https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=cast-types-and-maintenance-instructions-90-P02750

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