Plaster casts are made up of a bandage and a hard covering. They allow broken bones in the arm or leg to heal by holding them in place, and usually need to stay on for between 4 and 12 weeks.
Taking good care of your cast will help ensure a better recovery.
Cast care advice
Keep your arm or leg raised on a soft surface, such as a pillow, for as long as possible in the first few days. This will help any swelling to go down.
Don't get your plaster cast wet.
Fiberglass cast does not fall apart, but the soft padding underneath will get wet. It will make the skin itch, smell.
It's possible to buy special covers for casts to keep them dry when washing or bathing. Ask your local pharmacist for more information. Don't try to use plastic bags, bin liners, cling film or similar to keep the cast dry, as these are not reliable methods.
Always remove any covering as soon as you can to avoid causing sweating.
Even if the plaster cast makes your skin feel very itchy, don't poke anything underneath it. This could cause a nasty sore and lead to infection.
Do not walk on a cast unless you have been told it is safe to do so and have been given a plaster shoe.
The itchiness should settle down after a few days.
More plaster cast tips:
Exercise other joints which are not covered by the cast. It will improve your circulation.
Avoid getting smaller objects underneath your cast, it will irritate your skin.
Don't alter, cut, trim or change the position of your cast.
Please talk to your healthcare provider about the activities that you can perform.
Use crutches, sling as advised by your healthcare provider.
Use medicines as prescribed for pain relief.
See your healthcare provider right away if:
Your cast feels too tight even after keeping it elevated for 24 hours.
You experience persistent itching, burning underneath the cast.
Your fingers or toes on the affected limb become swollen, tingly, painful or numb.
The skin on your fingers or toes turned blue or white.
The cast feels too loose.
Your cast is broken or cracked.
Skin underneath are around the cast feels sore, or the cast feels sore.
There is unpleasant smell, discharge coming from your cast.
Fiberglass cast
