What nursing management is needed right after a plaster cast has been applied?
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You will be going home from the hospital with a plaster cast in place. A cast helps your body heal by holding your injured bones or joints in place. A damaged cast can keep the injury from healing well. Take good care of your cast. If the cast becomes damaged, it may need to be replaced. You have
a broken ___________________ bone. This bone is located in your ____________. Keep the cast dry. A wet cast can crumble and fall apart. Avoid all activities in which the cast could get wet. Take special care to keep the cast dry when you bathe or shower. Wrap the cast in plastic bags. Use heavy tape or rubber bands to secure the plastic so that water won’t leak in. Don’t soak the cast in water, even if it’s
wrapped in plastic. If you must go out in rain or snow, cover the cast with waterproof clothing or plastic. Use a hair dryer turned to the “cool” setting to dry a cast that has become wet. Call your healthcare provider if the cast has not dried in 24 hours. Don’t stick things in the cast, even to scratch the skin. Objects put in the cast may get stuck. Your skin may be cut and become infected. If your skin itches, try blowing air into
the cast with a hair dryer turned to the cool setting. Don’t cut or tear the cast. Cover any rough edges of the cast with cloth tape or moleskin. (You can buy this at a pharmacy.) Never try to remove the cast yourself. Don’t pick at the padding of the cast. Padding protects your skin and must be kept intact. Exercise all the nearby joints not immobilized by the cast. If you have a long leg cast, exercise your hip joint and your toes. If you have an arm cast or splint, exercise your shoulder, elbow, thumb, and fingers. Elevate the part of your body that is in the cast above the level of your heart. This helps reduce swelling. Follow-up careMake a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider, or as advised. When to call your healthcare providerCall your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these:
Cast care: Do's and don'tsA cast can't do its job without proper care. Find out the basics of cast care, from keeping a cast clean to knowing when to call the doctor. By Mayo Clinic StaffIf your child breaks a bone, a cast can help support and protect the injury as it heals. But a cast can't do its job without proper care. Find out more about the basics of cast care. What are the different types of casts?Casts are custom-made to fit and support injured limbs. There are two main types of casts:
What can be done to reduce swelling?Swelling can cause your child's cast to feel tight and uncomfortable. To reduce swelling:
What can I do if my child wants to scratch under the cast?A cast can cause your child's underlying skin to feel itchy. To relieve itchy skin, turn a hair dryer on a cool setting and aim it under the cast. Don't allow your child to stick objects, such as a coat hanger, inside the cast to scratch his or her skin. This could cause an injury or infection. Is it OK to get a cast wet?That depends on the type of cast your child has. In general, casts are meant to stay dry. A wet cast can lead to skin irritation or infection. Plaster casts and fiberglass casts with conventional padding aren't waterproof. Keep your child's cast dry during baths or showers by covering it with two layers of plastic, sealed with a rubber band or duct tape. Avoid swimming while wearing a cast that isn't waterproof. A fiberglass cast that has a waterproof liner can get wet. Only certain types of breaks can be treated with a waterproof cast and liner. Ask your doctor if it's safe for your child to get his or her cast wet. If the cast does get wet, you might be able to dry out the inside padding with a hair dryer. Use a low heat setting to avoid burning or irritating the skin. How can my child keep his or her cast in good shape?Try these tips:
What else do I need to know about my child's cast?Contact your child's doctor immediately if your child:
Caring for a child's cast isn't always easy. Remind your child that taking care of the cast will help minimize discomfort during the healing process. Sign-up to get Mayo Clinic’s trusted health content sent to your email. Receive a bonus guide on ways to manage your child’s health just for subscribing. Email Infant's First Year (0-1) Toddler (2-4) Elementary Children (5-10) Tween & Teen (11-17) To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient,
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. What nursing assessment should the nurse provide after the cast has been applied?Assess neurovascular status every 4 hours for the first 48 hours after the application of a cast. Assess skin integrity every 8 to 12 hours. Assess for pain every 2 to 4 hours during the acute phase and with vitals thereafter. Assess integrity and cleanliness of the cast every shift.
What are the nurse's responsibilities when a cast is applied for the patient?While the cast is on, the nurse observes the patient for systemic signs of infection, odors from the cast, and purulent drainage staining the cast. It is important to notify the physician if any of these occurs. capillary refill response, normal sensations, and ability to exercise fingers or toes.
What would we report immediately when it comes to a client with a cast?Report any of these symptoms immediately: Increased swelling at either end of your cast that will not decrease with elevation, ice and taking the medication. Coldness of the skin at either end of the cast that is not related to the use of the ice.
What should you check after cast application?The primary concern following new cast application is to prevent complications. Circulation should be checked hourly during the first 24 to 48 hours, then every 4 hours. (1) Check the skin temperature of the injured extremity. It should not be colder than the unaffected limb.
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