Cast Types and Maintenance Instructions

What’s a solid?

A solid holds a damaged bone in place because it heals. Casts additionally assist stop or lower muscle contractions, and are efficient at offering immobilization.

Casts immobilize the joint above and the joint under the world that’s to be stored straight and with out movement. For instance, a baby with a forearm fracture can have an extended arm solid to immobilize the wrist and elbow joints.

What are casts product of?

The surface, or arduous a part of the solid, is constituted of two completely different sorts of casting supplies.

Cotton and different artificial supplies are used to line the within of the solid to make it delicate and to supply padding round bony areas, such because the wrist or elbow.

Particular waterproof solid liners could also be used beneath a fiberglass solid, permitting the kid to get the solid moist. Speak along with your kid’s healthcare supplier for particular solid care directions for this kind of solid.

What are the several types of casts?

Under is an outline of the assorted varieties of casts, the situation of the physique they’re utilized, and their basic operate.

Kind of solid

Location

Makes use of

Quick arm solid

Utilized under the elbow to the hand.

Forearm or wrist fractures. Additionally used to carry the forearm or wrist muscular tissues and tendons in place after surgical procedure.

Lengthy arm solid

Utilized from the higher arm to the hand.

Higher arm, elbow, or forearm fractures. Additionally used to carry the arm or elbow muscular tissues and tendons in place after surgical procedure.

Arm cylinder solid

Utilized from the higher arm to the wrist.

To carry the elbow muscular tissues and tendons in place after a dislocation or surgical procedure.

Kind of solid

Location

Makes use of

Shoulder spica solid

Utilized across the trunk of the physique to the shoulder, arm, and hand.

Shoulder dislocations or after surgical procedure on the shoulder space.

Minerva solid

Utilized across the neck and trunk of the physique.

After surgical procedure on the neck or higher again space.

Quick leg solid

Utilized to the world under the knee to the foot.

Decrease leg fractures, extreme ankle sprains and strains, or fractures. Additionally used to carry the leg or foot muscular tissues and tendons in place after surgical procedure to permit therapeutic.

Leg cylinder solid

Utilized from the higher thigh to the ankle.

Knee, or decrease leg fractures, knee dislocations, or after surgical procedure on the leg or knee space.

Kind of solid

Location

Makes use of

Unilateral hip spica solid

Utilized from the chest to the foot on one leg.

Thigh fractures. Additionally used to carry the hip or thigh muscular tissues and tendons in place after surgical procedure to permit therapeutic.

One and one-half hip spica solid

Utilized from the chest to the foot on one leg to the knee of the opposite leg. A bar is positioned between each legs to maintain the hips and legs immobilized.

Thigh fracture. Additionally used to carry the hip or thigh muscular tissues and tendons in place after surgical procedure to permit therapeutic.

Bilateral lengthy leg hip spica solid

Utilized from the chest to the ft. A bar is positioned between each legs to maintain the hips and legs immobilized.

Pelvis, hip, or thigh fractures. Additionally used to carry the hip or thigh muscular tissues and tendons in place after surgical procedure to permit therapeutic.

Kind of solid

Location

Makes use of

Quick leg hip spica solid

Utilized from the chest to the thighs or knees.

To carry the hip muscular tissues and tendons in place after surgical procedure to permit therapeutic.

Kind of solid

Location

Makes use of

Abduction boot solid

Utilized from the higher thighs to the ft. A bar is positioned between each legs to maintain the hips and legs immobilized.

To carry the hip muscular tissues and tendons in place after surgical procedure to permit therapeutic.

How can my little one transfer round whereas in a solid?

Assistive units for kids with casts embrace:

Crutches

Walkers

Wagons

Wheelchairs

Reclining wheelchairs

Solid care directions

Comply with your healthcare supplier’s directions about masking your kid’s solid with plastic to maintain it from getting moist.

Maintain the solid clear and dry.

Test for cracks or breaks within the solid.

Pad tough edges to guard the pores and skin from scratches.

Do not scratch the pores and skin beneath the solid by placing objects contained in the solid.

Use a hairdryer positioned on a cool setting to blow air beneath the solid and funky down the recent, itchy pores and skin. By no means blow heat or sizzling air into the solid.

Do not put powders or lotion contained in the solid.

Cowl the solid whereas your little one is consuming to forestall meals spills and crumbs from coming into the solid.

Forestall small toys or objects from being put contained in the solid.

Elevate the solid above coronary heart stage to lower swelling.

Encourage your little one to maneuver their fingers or toes to advertise circulation.

In case your kid’s solid has an abduction bar, do not use the kidnapping bar on the solid to elevate or carry the kid.

Older kids with physique casts may have to make use of a bedpan or urinal to go to the toilet. Tricks to preserve physique casts clear and dry and forestall pores and skin irritation across the genital space embrace the next:

Use a diaper or sanitary serviette across the genital space to forestall leakage or splashing of urine.

Place rest room paper contained in the bedpan to forestall urine from splashing onto the solid or mattress.

Maintain the genital space as clear and dry as doable to forestall pores and skin irritation.

When to name your kid’s healthcare supplier

Contact your kid’s healthcare supplier in case your little one has any of those signs:

Fever (see Fever and kids, under)

Chills

Elevated ache

Elevated swelling above or under the solid

Decreased capability to maneuver toes or fingers

Complaints of numbness or tingling

Drainage or dangerous odor from the solid

Cool or chilly fingers or toes

The solid turns into moist or soiled

Blister, sores, or a rash develop beneath the solid

Fever and kids

Use a digital thermometer to verify your little one’s temperature. Don’t use a mercury thermometer. There are completely different sorts and makes use of of digital thermometers. They embrace:

Rectal. For youngsters youthful than 3 years, a rectal temperature is probably the most correct.

Brow (temporal). This works for kids age 3 months and older. If a baby beneath 3 months outdated has indicators of sickness, this can be utilized for a primary move. The supplier could need to verify with a rectal temperature.

Ear (tympanic). Ear temperatures are correct after 6 months of age, however not earlier than.

Armpit (axillary). That is the least dependable however could also be used for a primary move to verify a baby of any age with indicators of sickness. The supplier could need to verify with a rectal temperature.

Mouth (oral). Don’t use a thermometer in your little one’s mouth till they’re a minimum of 4 years outdated.

Use a rectal thermometer with care. Comply with the product maker’s instructions for proper use. Insert it gently. Label it and ensure it’s not used within the mouth. It could move on germs from the stool. If you happen to don’t really feel OK utilizing a rectal thermometer, ask the healthcare supplier what kind to make use of as an alternative. If you discuss with any healthcare supplier about your little one’s fever, inform them which sort you used.

Under is when to name the healthcare supplier in case your little one has a fever. Your little one’s healthcare supplier could offer you completely different numbers. Comply with their directions.

When to name a healthcare supplier about your little one’s fever

For a child beneath 3 months outdated:

First, ask your little one’s healthcare supplier how it is best to take the temperature.

Rectal or brow: 100.4°F (38°C) or larger

Armpit: 99°F (37.2°C) or larger

A fever of ___________as suggested by the supplier

For a kid age 3 months to 36 months (3 years):

Rectal or brow: 102°F (38.9°C) or larger

Ear (just for use over age 6 months): 102°F (38.9°C) or larger

A fever of ___________ as suggested by the supplier

In these instances:

Armpit temperature of 103°F (39.4°C) or larger in a baby of any age

Temperature of 104°F (40°C) or larger in a baby of any age

A fever of ___________ as suggested by the supplier

On-line Medical Reviewer:
Rahul Banerjee MD

On-line Medical Reviewer:
Raymond Turley Jr PA-C

On-line Medical Reviewer:
Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN

Date Final Reviewed:
1/1/2023