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

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

Why do I have a cast? — Your doctor gave you a cast to treat your broken bone. (A broken bone is also called a "fracture.") The cast will reduce your pain and protect your bone as it heals.

Casts are made of hard material that goes over a soft liner and padding. You will 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 I get my cast wet? — It depends on what your cast is made of. Casts can be:

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.

Your doctor will tell you if your cast and padding are waterproof. Otherwise, you should be careful not to get your cast wet.

If you need to keep your cast dry when you bathe, you can:

Cover it with 2 plastic bags, and tape each bag (separately) to your skin with duct tape (figure 1).

Keep your cast outside of the tub or shower when you wash your body.

For young children, use a rubber band at the top of each plastic bag instead of tape. For them, removing the tape from the skin can hurt too much.

Some people buy a waterproof cast cover to use when bathing. If you use a waterproof cast cover, it's still a good idea to keep your cast outside the tub or shower. These covers are not completely waterproof.

If your cast is not waterproof but gets wet, you can dry it with a hair dryer on the cool setting. 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 your cast. Put the hose next to your cast so that you suck wet air out of the cast.

What are other ways I can take care of my cast? — To take care of your cast, you can:

Keep your cast clean, and avoid getting dirt or sand inside it.

Do not put anything inside your cast.

Do not put powder or lotion on the skin near your cast.

Do not pull the lining out from inside the cast.

Cover your cast when you eat, so it doesn't get dirty.

What if I have pain under my cast during the first few days? — If you have pain during the first few days, you 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 object) directly on your skin.

Keep your cast raised (for example, on pillows) to help reduce swelling – To reduce swelling and pain, your cast needs to be raised above the level of your heart.

Take medicine to relieve your pain – If your doctor prescribed pain-relieving medicine, you can take that. You can also ask your doctor or nurse about taking over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin).

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

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

You have severe pain or pain that is getting worse.

You have sores or cuts on the skin under the cast.

Your cast smells bad, feels too tight, or cracks.

You are unable to move your fingers or toes.

Your fingers or toes are blue, gray, or cold.

Your cast is not waterproof and becomes soaking wet.

More on this topic

Patient education: How to care for your child's 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)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 02, 2024.
Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
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