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Cast

Casts are immobilizing devices made of plaster or fiberglass that are molded to injured body parts to help them heal properly. They prevent movement of the injured area and apply even pressure. Different types of casts are used depending on the location and severity of the injury. Proper application and care of the cast is important to promote healing and prevent complications. Common cast types include short arm, long arm, leg, and body casts.

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58 views3 pages

Cast

Casts are immobilizing devices made of plaster or fiberglass that are molded to injured body parts to help them heal properly. They prevent movement of the injured area and apply even pressure. Different types of casts are used depending on the location and severity of the injury. Proper application and care of the cast is important to promote healing and prevent complications. Common cast types include short arm, long arm, leg, and body casts.

Uploaded by

lindzy.amurao01
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CAST – immobilizing device molded to the parts of the body (plaster & fiber glass)

- plaster of Paris (gypsum sulfate) mixed with water (forms into a hard cement)
- prevents area around it from moving as it heals, apply uniform pressure on soft tissue
- to correct a deformity, helps prevent muscle contractions
- support & maintain realigned bone

Principles – provide maximal comfort & alleviation of complications

- application of padding is the first step (wadding sheet, roll of cotton stockinette)
- maintain position during cast application (depending on type of cast being applied and loc of
injury)
- can be applied as a combination (stockinette & sheet wadding)
- include the joint above and below injured part
- apply in circular motion and mold it

Contraindications – Pregnancy (growing size of abdomen, edematous legs and feet

- skin disease (lesions, vesicles, infection, inflammation)


- open wound, infection, swelling

Materials: Plaster of Paris, polyester fiberglass, thermoplasts

Application (circular):

- check doc’ order, identify, explain, assess area to be casted


- perform pain assessment and asses muscle spasm (administer medication)
- cleanse (bath and shampoo, soap and water then dried. if wound, have it dressed)
- prepare things, position the extremity
- apply padding including joints above and below the fracture line
- soak the plaster cast into a bucket w/ water (leave until bubbles cease)
- grasp both ends of the cast towards the center w/o squeezing
- free the end of cast and hand it to the operator
- apply circular motion until covered and mold it by the palm

Handle the cast with care

- avoid moving the pt or transferring w/ wet cast


- care must be taken to maintain integrity of cast
- excess plaster trimmed by trimming knife
- cast spilled removed by wiping w/ damp cloth
- to dry it fast (expose to open air/ electric fan, heat lamp, warm room)
- protect pt from rapid drying of the cast, to prevent pneumonia and body fluid loss from
excessive sweating
- complains of discomfort should be investigated (appropriate measure to be given)
- Spica cast should be turned every 4-6 hrs to promote even drying
- roughed edges should be smoothed w/ cast knife (covered with adhesive petals)
Care of pt w/ cast

- duration of cast at least one month


- factors influence the duration: age of pt, part of body affected, degree of injury
- Neuro-vascular checks- color, motion, temperature, sensation of toes/fingers observed every
30 mins for several hrs
- observe hot spot or musty odor, infection
- assess for vascular occlusion
- circulatory impairment results in coldness, edema, cyanosis pain, numbness of toes/fingers
- pt w/ arm and leg cast should be able to move and feel each toe/finger cause same nerve
does not innervate each one
- preservation of efficiency of cast
- maintenance & promotion of integrity of system of the body
- maintain cleanliness of cast

Turning pt in cast

- casted trunk & lower extremities must be done carefully


- pt must be lifted not rolled
- support should be provided to the part and whole body
- first changing of position depends on condition of the case and body involve
- first turning usually is to dry the posterior surface of cast
- provide comfort and protect against respiratory complication (pneumonia, PD)

REMEMBER:

- after cast removal, support the part w/ pillow, maintaining same position
- move extremity gently
- observe skin for any abrasions & plaster sores
- wash skin w/ mild soap followed by oil and lanolin as prescribed

TYPES of cast:

1. short arm – below the elbow to palmar crease, (thumb Spica) wrist injuries
2. long arm – upper level of axillary to palmar crease, immobilized at right angle, aft elbow surgery
3. feunster’s – wrist and fingers w/ compound affection,
4. long arm posterior mold – radius / ulna compound affection
5. hanging – shaft of humerus
6. airplane – humerus and shoulder joint w/ compound affection, severe sprains
7. shoulder Spica – humerus & shoulder joint, aft major surgery
8. functional arm – humerus (allows abduction & adduction)
9. collar cast – cervical affection
10. Minerva – upper dorsal cervical spine, undergone spinal injury
11. body cast – lower dorso-lumbar spine, dislocations
12. rizzer’s jacket – scoliosis
13. double hip Spica – hip and femur
14. double hip Spica posterior mold – pelvic affection w/ callus formation plus 2 femur
15. 1 ½ hip Spica – hip and femur
16. 1 ½ hip Spica posterior mold – w/ compound fracture
17. single hip Spica – hip & one femur
18. posterior mold – pelvic bone fracture w/ callus formation
19. pantalon cast – pelvic bone fracture
20. frog cast – congenital hip dislocation
21. long leg cast – tibia and fibula, knee dislocations
22. long leg posterior mold – w/ compound affection
23. basket cast – severe leg trauma w/ open wound
24. cylindrical leg cast – patella
25. quadrilateral ischial bearing cast – shaft of the femur w/ callus formation
26. cast brace – fracture of the femur distal 3rd femur
27. short leg – ankle & foot
28. patellar tendon bearing – tibia & fibula w/ callus formation
29. delbit – tibia and fibula
30. short leg posterior mold – w/ compound affection
31. internal rotator splint – post hip operation
32. boot leg – hip and femoral fracture
33. night splint – post polio (plantar fasciitis)

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