You injury has been treated with a plaster cast. You have had a thorough examination and are now considered fit to be discharged. The following instructions will help you look after your cast and aid your recovery.
Care Instructions for you and your Plaster Cast
A plaster cast protects your bone and allows the body to heal. Taking good care of your cast will help ensure a better recovery.
You should:
- Cover any soft furnishings with plastic sheeting while your plaster is drying (approx 72 hours)
- Keep the limb raised as much as possible to help reduce swelling
- When walking with an arm cast, keep your fingers above the level of your elbow
- When sitting with a leg cast, keep your leg raised with your foot higher than your hip
- Exercise all parts not covered by the plaster, ie, shoulder, knee, fingers or toes
- Wait until the plaster is dry before letting anyone write on the cast
Do not:
- Get the plaster wet – this will weaken it. You can use a plastic bag to cover up the cast when you have a bath or shower. Seal the bag to make it as watertight as possible
- Walk on the plaster unless told to do so. If your cast is weight-bearing, wear the shoe provided indoors and outdoors
- Heat the plaster as plaster is a conductor of heat and may cause a burn
- Scratch the skin or poke anything under the cast. You can try and cool the itch with a bag of ice wrapped in a tea towel
- Rest the drying plaster on a hard surface
Contact the UTC if:
- The plaster is uncomfortable.
- The cast becomes painful or is rubbing the skin anywhere.
- The plaster does not fit well or the plaster becomes soft, cracks or gets wet.
- You notice an offensive smell or staining through the plaster.
Plaster casts and the risk of blood clots
Fractures and lower limb plaster casts are associated with a small risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). This is where blood clots form in the veins which can block the flow of blood and cause pain and swelling.
Occasionally the clot can travel through your circulation and reach the lungs, a pulmonary embolism, and cause coughing sometimes with blood, chest pain and breathlessness.
Go to your nearest Emergency Department at once if:
- Your fingers/toes become numb, blue, very cold or swollen and they do not get better even if you keep them raised for a while.
- You are unable to move your fingers or toes or have the sensation of pins and needles that does not go away.
- You have intense pain which is not relieved when the limb is raised.
- You develop sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or cough up blood.
Reducing the risk of developing a DVT
It is difficult to predict who will get a blood clot. There are steps that can be taken to try and reduce this risk
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Mobilise as much as you are comfortable
- If you smoke, stop – this will also help your bone to heal
- Perform the exercises described below at least 3 times a day
Exercises for reducing the risk of DVT in lower limb casts
While you have to wear a cast, any activity which promotes contraction of muscles and increased blood flow is helpful.
Try and do the following at least 3 times a day.
For any cast on the legs
Wiggle your toes while lying in bed or whilst sat up with your leg elevated. Try and do this for at least 10 seconds and as often as you can. This promotes blood flow and can help reduce the risk of blood clotting.
Inside the plaster cast, if it is safe to do so, try and move your ankle up and down. It will not move very much as the cast will stop it. Repeat 10 times.
If the cast feels loose or is rubbing, contact the hospital using the numbers on the front of the leaflet.
For below knee casts only
Regularly bend your knee. Sit down, bend your knee and then straighten your knee. Repeat ten times.
Lie on your tummy on the bed and bend your knee, bringing your heel towards your bottom. Slowly lower your foot back down to the bed, keeping the movement slow and controlled.
Lie on your bed or sit up with your leg raised. Keeping your leg straight, brace the knee and keeping the leg straight, lift the whole leg up approximately 5 cm, hold for five seconds then slowly lower it down again.
How to seek further medical advice
If you have concerns that your, or your child’s, condition is worsening (or not improving in the way that would be expected) you should seek medical advice as follows:
- In normal opening hours please contact your own registered GP practice.
- Outside your GP’s opening hours you should phone 111 who will advise you what steps you need to take next.
- If you are unable to get advice from the above and you, or your child has urgent concerns you could re-attend the Urgent Treatment Centre you visited today. If this is not an option you could attend your nearest hospital Emergency Department (A&E).
If you have concerns that you or the patient you are caring for has a potentially life-threatening illness or injury you should call 999.
Share this...
Were you prepared for the visit today?
Did you feel you were prepared for your hospital visit today? Not many people do. The focus of getting there, whether it is in an emergency or for an appointment, can easily end up with you in a muddle.
Am I Prepared?Related Information
A Little Exercise
You don’t have to become a rambler, ‘hit the gym’ or run 5k to get exercise. However it is important that you get at least 150…
Read More
Introduction Video
Introducing you to MySelfCare and a Quick overview of its features and how it works in the Hospital
Read More
World Alzheimer’s Month – Simple tips to reducing your risk of Alzheimer’s
Simple tips for reducing risk of alzheimer’s – World alzheimer’s Month
Read More
What is Wellbeing?
NOUNwellbeing (noun) the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy – Oxford Dictionary definition Wellbeing, put simply, is about ‘how we are doing’ as individuals, communities and…
Read More
Was this information useful?
How easy to understand and how useful was the information for you. All feedback is anonymous. If you would like a possible response, please include your email.
How was your visit today?
How well did our staff do today in helping you with your condition. Please note All feedback is anonymous. If you would like a possible response, please include your email.
Treatment Feedback - Tools for Hospitals
Coming soon – order physical products, and new categories, review your documents and much more.
You must have a valid NHS Email to use this service.
Find Out More
News & Blog
View All
Part 2 – Delivering Information
This video explores the diverse range of patient information delivery products offered by MySelfCare, providing comprehensive guidance on how to utilise them effectively.
Read More
Part 1 – Scanning QRs
This video provides step-by-step instructions on how to use QR codes with MySelfCare, making it easy for you to utilise this powerful feature
Read More
Introduction Video
Introducing you to MySelfCare and a Quick overview of its features and how it works in the Hospital
Read More
Burnout at work
Over the past few decades, “burnout” has become an all-too-familiar way of speaking about a growing problem. Although originating with psychologist Herbert Freudenberger’s 1974 theory, it…
Read More