Wearing a cast can be a nuisance. In addition to the injury caused by the cast, daily routines such as showering, dressing or going out are complicated. And if the person wearing the cast is also a child, the difficulties increase even more.
The objective of these casts is to keep a specific extremity immobilized. But in the first moments the child may be scared or upset, and then completely forget that he is wearing it.
As these treatments are long, the specialists of the , provide parents with some tips to keep the cast in good condition and avoid any problems derived from its use.
Guidelines so that the plaster does not get damaged and fulfills its function
Once you go home with the cast, specialists recommend:
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Let the affected limb stand up. This prevents the area affected by the injury from swelling.
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Since the cast will not be completely dry, it is important to place it on a cushion, not on a hard surface that may deform it.
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It is important to check that there are no blood circulation problems in the limb. “This is done by squeezing the fingers a little until they turn white and releasing them until the normal pink color returns,” they explain from SEOP.
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This should be done every hour for the first 12 hours after casting. Once this time has passed, it should be checked several times a day.
The next recommendation is probably the most difficult when the patient is in a cast on a child. We talk about cleaning the cast. Although it seems an impossible task, you have to keep the cast clean. As? Passing it a damp cloth.
They also provide a trick: give a layer of plastic paint in the most exposed areas.
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A child should NEVER be bathed with a cast on. The best are quick showers and with the plaster protected by a plastic.
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One of the guidelines that allow us to know that the plaster is still well placed is that the upper part of the fingers must be seen. If this is not the case, it means that the cast has become loose and has slipped, which is not fulfilling its objective of correcting the injury.
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The plaster must not be modified by cutting it on any side.
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It is important that the child does not put any object inside it.
When to go to the emergency room
So far we have seen the recommendations to keep the cast in good condition so that it never fails to meet the objective of immobilizing and recovering from the injury.
But there are occasions in which complications can arise and in which the most indicated thing will be to go to the traumatology emergency room.
SEOP experts list some of these complications.
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If the fingers appear swollen, pale or acquire a purplish color, if they are cold and hurt, you must go to a hospital.
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If the child complains of pain, stinging or itching repeatedly and persistently in the limb in the cast.
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When you can’t move your fingers well.
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In the event that the cast has accidentally gotten wet, cracked or broken.
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When the cast smells bad.
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If the plaster is causing wounds or abrasions on the skin.
There are occasions when it is necessary to put a cast after performing a surgical intervention on the extremity. In these cases, pediatric orthopedics explain that the signs that alert us that something is wrong are:
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Fever of 38.5 C or more, without any apparent cause. A high temperature may be a symptom of an infection in the wound under the cast.
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The plaster appears stained. This may be due to bleeding, oozing, or oozing from the wound.