Patient education: How to care for your child's cast (The Basics)

Why does my child have a cast? — The doctor gave your child a cast to treat their broken bone. (A broken bone is also called a "fracture.") The cast will reduce their pain and protect their bone as it heals.

Casts are made of hard material that goes over a soft liner and padding. Your child needs to keep the cast on until a doctor removes it.

It's important to take care of a cast so that the skin underneath doesn't get hurt or infected.

Can my child get their cast wet? — It depends on what their cast is made of. Casts can be made of:

●Plaster – This is a smooth, white material. Plaster casts should never get wet.

●Fiberglass – This material is rougher on the outside. Sometimes, it comes in different colors. Fiberglass is waterproof. Casts made of fiberglass might be able to get wet, if the padding underneath is also waterproof.

The doctor will tell you if your child's cast and padding are waterproof. Otherwise, your child should be careful to not get their cast wet.

If your child needs to keep their cast dry when they bathe, you can:

●Cover it with 2 plastic bags, and secure each bag (separately) to their skin with a rubber band or duct tape (figure 1).

●Have your child keep their cast outside of the tub or shower when they wash their body.

You can also buy a waterproof cast cover to use for bathing. If your child uses a waterproof cast cover, it's still a good idea for them to keep their cast outside of the tub or shower. These covers are not completely waterproof. Your child cannot swim with a waterproof cast cover.

If your child's cast is not waterproof but gets wet, use a hairdryer on the cool setting to dry it. Do not use a warm or hot setting, because those settings can burn the skin. You can also use a vacuum cleaner that has a hose to help dry the cast. Put the hose next to the cast to suck wet air out of the cast.

How else should my child care for their cast? — To take care of their cast, your child can:

●Keep their cast clean and avoid getting dirt or sand inside it

●Not put anything inside their cast

●Not put powder or lotion on the skin near the cast

●Not pull the lining out from inside the cast

●Cover the cast when they eat, so it doesn't get dirty

If your child's cast is on their leg or foot, do not let them put weight on it unless the doctor says that it is OK. The doctor might order crutches or a walker for your child. You might need to use a stroller, wagon, or wheelchair to help a very young child keep weight off of their cast.

What if my child has pain under their cast during the first few days? — If your child has pain during the first few days, they can:

●Put ice on the cast – Use a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Do not put the ice (or other cold objects) directly on their skin.

●Keep the cast raised (for example, on pillows) to help reduce swelling – To reduce swelling and pain, the cast needs to be raised above the level of their heart. The doctor might have your child use a sling to keep a cast on their arm raised.

●Take medicine to relieve pain – If your doctor prescribed pain-relieving medicine, you can give them the medicine. You can also give your child over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin). Before you do this, ask your child's doctor or nurse how much medicine to give and how often to give it.

What if my child's skin itches under the cast? — If their skin itches, you can use a hair dryer on the cool setting to blow air inside the cast. Do not let your child put anything in their cast to scratch the skin.

When should I call the doctor? — Call your child's doctor or nurse right away if:

●Your child has severe pain or pain that is getting worse.

●Your child has sores or cuts on the skin under the cast.

●Your child's cast smells bad, feels too tight, or cracks.

●Your child is unable to move their fingers or toes.

●Your child's fingers or toes are blue, gray, or cold.

●Your child's cast is not waterproof and gets soaking wet.

●Your child gets an object stuck between the cast and their skin.

More on this topic

Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Common wrist injuries (The Basics)
Patient education: Finger fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Ankle fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Hand fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Meniscal tear (The Basics)
Patient education: Toe fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Wrist fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Forearm fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Femur fracture (The Basics)

Patient education: Cast and splint care (Beyond the Basics)