Body Cast Care

Good cast and skin care will help you recover.  This handout will tell you how to care for your cast.  It will also give you guidelines for skin care and physical activities.

 

At first, plan to have someone help you with your home care until you can manage on your own.  You may also need help getting around outside your home.  Talk with your doctor or nurse about your needs.  If you need a nurse to visit you at home, we can help you arrange it.

 

Reminders

 

1.   Take your temperature at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily for a few days.  If your temperature remains over 38.3° C or 101° F, call your doctor.

 

2.   You will have a fiberglass cast.  It takes 3 hours for a fiberglass cast to dry.  While your cast is drying:

• Keep the cast uncovered as much as you can to help it dry.
• Do not do anything to change the shape of your cast.

Cast Care

 

1.   If your body cast covers an arm or leg, check your fingers and toes daily.  Call your doctor if you notice any of these signs:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Coldness
• Extreme Paleness
• A blue color to fingers and toes
• Lack of movement (wiggle your fingers or toes to check)

2.   Keep the cast clean and dry.  If the cast should become wet, call your doctor.

• You can take sponge baths and foot soaks, but no showers or tub baths.
• When you shampoo, don't get the cast wet.  Cover your skin and the edge of the cast with plastic so that water doesn't run into the cast.  Do not let long, wet hair hang down on the cast.

3.   To protect your skin from irritation, cover the edges of the cast with waterproof tape or moleskin. This will also help prevent the edges of the cast from crumbling.

 

4.   Do not cover your cast with pictures.  Also, never draw over the area that was operated on.  The ink may be absorbed and irritate the wound.

 

Daily Skin Care

 

1.   Check the skin under the cast every day.

 

With a flashlight, check for reddened areas, broken skin, or sores under the cast.  You will need someone to help you.  If you see a red area, change your position so that you aren't putting pressure on that area.  The red area should go away in 1-2 hours.  If the red area does not go away, or if you see broken skin or sores, call your doctor or the Orthopedic Clinic at

(608) 263-7540.

 

2.   Change your position every 2-3 hours.

 

This will help prevent pressure areas.  You can change to your side, back, or stomach.  Good skin care can also help prevent sores.

 

3.   To relieve itching under the cast, blow cool air into the cast with a hair dryer.  Do not use powder.

 

Physical Activities

 

Your doctor will talk with you about your recovery--how soon you can begin activities, return to work or school, etc.  Please ask your doctor any questions you have about what you can or can't do.

 

Prevent Constipation

 

Constipation could be a problem for you.  Eat a well balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and foods high in fiber.  Also, drink 8-10 glasses of fluids a day.  To find out how to prevent constipation and increase fiber in your diet, ask your nurse for the handout on Constipation (HFFY #4224).

Other Tips

 

Try to stay at the same body weight.  Gaining or losing weight will make the cast too tight or too loose.  If your cast does become too loose or too tight, call your doctor.

 

Wear loose clothing for comfort.  Velcro strips at openings are helpful.

 

When to Call Your Doctor

• If your fingers or toes become cold, pale, numb, blue, or unable to move.
• If swelling of a casted arm or leg is not reduced by elevation.
• If you have severe or constant pain.
• If your temperature remains over 38.3º C or 101º F.
• If there is an odor or unusual drainage under or through the cast.
• If the cast becomes loose, cracked, broken, wet or too tight.
• If there is an area that stays red 1-2 hours after changing positions, broken skin or a sore under your cast.

Phone Numbers

 

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Orthopedic Clinic, (608) 265-7540

 

After hours, nights, weekends, and holidays, please call (608) 262-0486.  This will give you the paging operator.  Ask for the orthopedic resident on call.  Give the operator your name and phone number with the area code.  The doctor will call you back.

 

If you live out of the area, please call 1-800-323-8942 for the paging operator.

 

 

 

 

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 06/06/2007

Copyright © 04/28/2005 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #4333

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