Caring For Your Cast

Caring for your Cast Information for Patient Why do I need a cast?

Casts are a common form of treatment. They are used to hold fractured bones in their proper place so that healing can take place with time, and reduce pain.

They may also be used to relieve pain from severe sprains.

They would need to stay on your arm or leg for 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the severity of your injury.

Different types of casts and splints are applied. Plaster of paris slabs are applied during the early stages of treatment to hold the fractured bones in their proper place.

Synthetic casts will be applied once the broken bones have started to heal.

How to care for my cast?

Proper care of the cast is important for faster recovery and prevention of infections.

Arms • Your cast may take 30 minutes or up to 48 hours to dry and set (depending on the material).

• Swelling may occur during the first 72 hours.

• Avoid contact with water.

Protect your cast with plastic wrapping while bathing or washing.

• Use the sling to raise your injured arm to the level of your heart when sitting or standing. It will help to reduce swelling.

• Rest the injured arm on pillows when lying down so that it is at the same level of your heart. It will help to reduce swelling.

• Check the blood circulation in the injured arm by pressing and holding the nail of one finger till the nail bed turns white. When the colour returns upon releasing the pressure, it means that the blood circulation is fine.

• Check regularly that your fingers can close and open freely, and are not turning blue or have increased in swelling.

Do not: • Put powder, sprays or foreign objects to relieve itchiness as it will cause skin irritation or infection.

• Trim or remove the cast

Legs • Your cast may take 30 minutes to 48 hours to dry and set. (depending on the material) • Swelling may occur during the first 72 hours.

• Avoid contact with water.

Protect your cast with plastic wrapping while bathing or washing.

• Rest the injured leg on pillows when lying down so that it is at the same level of your heart. It will help in reducing swelling.

• Avoid bearing weight on the injured leg. Use crutches or walking aids for support if you need to walk.

• Rest the injured leg on a chair when sitting so that it is at the same level of your hip. It will help to reduce swelling.

• Check the blood circulation in the injured leg by pressing and holding the nail of one toe till the nail bed turns white. When the colour returns upon releasing the pressure, it means that the blood circulation is fine.

• Check regularly that your toes can wriggle freely, and are not turning blue or have increased in swelling.

Do not: • Walk using your injured leg unless the doctor says it is okay to do so.

• Put powder, sprays or foreign objects to relieve itchiness as it will cause skin irritation or infection.

• Trim or remove the cast

When do you seek medical attention?

Please call us at 6555 8000 if you experience any symptoms below.

Severe pain or swelling on the injured arm or leg that is not relieved: • After taking medicine • Rest • After raising it to the level of your heart or hip Numbness or “pins and needles” sensation under the cast.

Fingers or toes of the injured arm or leg turning blue or white and painful.

Not being able to move the toes or fingers on the injured arm or leg as compared to the uninjured arm or leg Skin irritation or rash around the cast edges.

Observe a new stain or colour change on the cast (post surgery), or if the cast breaks, cracks, loosens or softens.

Foul odour from a wet cast

Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities in the north of Singapore, under the National Healthcare Group.

Admiralty Medical Centre • (65) 6807 8000 • www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg The information is correct at the time of printing and subject to revision without further notice.

IP.PE.73.0420