Cast Care

Many of us who got casts as kids remember the excitement leaving the doctor's office. Picking the color, getting it signed by classmates. The hard protective shell marked you out as something of a soldier of childhood, a victim of a daring act of childhood risk-taking or rule-breaking that other kids would undoubtably admire. Unfortunately, like getting braces, it probably lost its luster pretty quickly, and as an adult you know better. Having a cast isn't fun. These tips will help:

 

· Your cast has to stay clean and dry, and the biggest tip we can give you is to buy a cast cover. Cast covers are available on Amazon for under twenty dollars. They are sometimes also sold at local drugstores. 

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· If a cast cover is not available, we recommend a double plastic bag with duct tape (1).

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· The cast cover will allow you to protect the cast while you shower. However, you shouldn't immerse the cast in water, even with the cast cover on. The seal is not strong enough to keep the water out.

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· If the cast gets a little wet, blow air into it with a hairdryer set on "cool" to dry out the padding on the inside. If the cast gets very wet, you may need a new one. Call Dr. Williams' office. 

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· We do have waterproof casting material that may be appropriate in some cases. Note that these tend to be less comfortable than traditional casts, and they are not appropriate if you have a healing surgical wound.

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· Do not stick anything down the cast. While it can get itchy and may seem like an excellent place to store a secret snack for later, corn kernels, Legos, and pencil erasers belong outside the cast, not in it.

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· You can ice your injury, even in the cast. Make sure the ice pack is not leaky, and simply place the ice pack over the injured area for 20 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day. This can help with pain and swelling from your injury and can also help alleviate itching associated with the cast.

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· If there is a spot where your cast is rubbing on/irritating your skin, please call Dr. Williams' office. We will trim, pad, or replace the cast if needed to fix the problem.

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· Swelling can fluctuate after an injury, and this can sometimes result in the cast being overly tight. If the cast feels too tight, the fingers become numb, tingly, or change colors, or if you develop uncontrolled pain, please call Dr. Williams' office right away.

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1. McDowell et al. A Comparison of various contemporary methods to prevent a wet cast. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2014; 96(12):e99.