Cast Care Instructions
1.
The new cast will feel warm for 10
minutes, then it will cool down as it sets up.
2.
Please
keep the hand elevated above the level of the heart—and preferably above
the level of the nose—at all times. At night it would be helpful to keep
the arm elevated by positioning the arm over one or two pillows.
3.
Full
range of motion of the fingers is essential. Please move the fingers in
full flexion as to touch the cast with the tips of the fingers, and then
straighten them all the way until they are fully straight. Elevation and
the continuous active movements of the fingers will prevent stiffness of
the fingers and also prevent swelling inside the cast. Prevention of
swelling is extremely important in order to improve pain.
4.
Please do
not stick anything down into the cast.
5.
A
plaster cast will not thoroughly dry for 24 to 48 hours. For this
reason, please do not rest it against anything hard, as it may cause an
indentation in the cast that could form an ulcer underneath the cast. A
fiberglass cast usually dries in 20 minutes.
6.
If you
have a plaster cast, please keep the cast dry. If it gets wet,
please call the office. The cast may need to be changed. If you have a
fiberglass cast and it gets wet you must be certain to thoroughly
dry the cast using the low speed of a blow dryer. It takes approximately
two to three hours to dry. The fiberglass cast may be washed with soap
and water or Woolite but must be thoroughly rinsed and dried. If the cast
is not thoroughly dried, it is like a wet diaper on the skin. It may
cause skin breakdown, rash, or infection. If it gets really wet, call the
office.
7.
If the
cast is too tight, too loose, or if it breaks, please notify me. When the
cast is removed, do not scratch or rub the skin. After being under a
cast, the skin becomes as tender as baby skin. It is very easy to injure
the skin and cause sores by scratching. Soak the extremity in warm, soapy
water or Woolite and water for 20 minutes. Apply any lotion in a good
amount, and let it set overnight. By the next morning, a lot of dry skin
will wash off.
8.
Please
check the circulation of the fingers frequently. They should be warm and
pink. If there is any swelling,
bluish discoloration of the fingers,
severe pain that does not respond to elevation, or
numbness, please report that immediately
to us either at the office or at the Emergency Room of the hospital.
9.
If you
have any question or concern, please do not hesitate to contact me at any
time. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or
you may call St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital at (217) 342-2121, and they
will have us paged. Thank you very much.
Patient Discharge
____________________________
P. K. Stewart, M.D. N. Naam, M.D., F.A.C.S.
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