Extreme pain Swelling Bruising Dizziness or lightheadedness right after the break occurs The arm is bent in a way that it shouldn’t be The person is unable to move his wrist or fingers A snapping or grinding noise when the injury occurred Bleeding and pieces of bone sticking out through the skin
Use an ice pack to reduce the person’s pain and swelling. Wrap a bag of ice or package of frozen peas in a towel. After 20 minutes, give the skin a chance to warm up. You can use a large towel to help the person support the arm in a sling or prop up the arm. Do not move the arm, that could cause more damage.
Soft cloth to protect the skin against irritation Soft padding Plaster or fiberglass to prevent movement An elastic bandage to hold the pieces of the splint in place
For minor fractures where the bones remain correctly aligned, no additional procedures may be needed before putting a cast on the arm. If the bones are not aligned, the doctor will give the person anesthesia to either numb the area or put her to sleep. Then the doctor will try to move the bones back into place. If this is not possible, the doctor may need to do surgery. This is more likely to be necessary when a joint has been broken. Surgery may also be necessary if wires, plates, screws, or pins are needed to hold the pieces of bone in place.
A short arm cast is usually used if a wrist bone is broken. This cast would extend from the knuckles to below the elbow. (Sometimes a long cast will be used to prevent the person from twisting his wrist and putting it out of alignment. ) A long arm cast is put on if the forearm or elbow is broken. The cast would go from the knuckles to the upper arm. Fractures of the humerus (upper arm) are treated either with a sling or a brace, but not a cast.
Plaster. Plaster is a white powder that is mixed with water and then allowed to harden into the outer shell of the cast. Plaster is easier to work with because it sets more slowly. This gives the doctor more time to work. It also means it gives off less heat, making burns less likely. [8] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Fiberglass. Fiberglass is a type of plastic. It is lasts longer, is lighter, and is better for X-rays than plaster.
Tape Scissors A basin of water. The water temperature affects how quickly the casting material will set. It will set faster with warmer water. In general for plaster casts, the water should be lukewarm. For fiberglass the water should be room temperature or cooler. Casting gloves, if your doctor will use fiberglass Padding Plaster or fiberglass casting material Sheets or pads to cover you and keep your clothing clean A stockinette
The doctor will first position your arm so that the bones will heal correctly. You will first have a stockinette put on your arm. It will likely be about 4 inches longer above and below the injured area that the doctor will put the cast on. The stockinette will likely be 2 or 3 inches wide. The doctor will smooth it to prevent it from wrinkling. The doctor may not use a stockinette if the arm is expected to swell a lot. The doctor will wrap your arm in padding. Each layer will overlap the previous by about 50%, producing a double layer over your arm when the doctor is done. The doctor may add more layers, particularly over the fingers or other bony areas. The padding used on your hands will likely be about 2 inches wide, while the padding used on your arm may be up to 4 inches wide. The padding should be an inch and a half longer at either end than the area that the cast will cover. It should not restrict blood flow.
If the cast is too tight it may restrict the blood flow or irritate the skin. If the cast is too loose or has too much padding it may move on the arm, rub, and cause scratches and blisters.
Inversely proportional to the setting time. This means that casts that set more slowly produce less heat at any one moment. Directly proportional to the number of layers used. This means the more casting material used, the greater the amount of heat that will be produced.
Increasing pain Tingling Numbness Extreme swelling White, blue, purple, or dusky colored fingers Decreased blood flow Loss of movement that was previously present in the fingers Blistering or red skin under the cast Fluid draining from the cast A bad odor coming from the arm A fever
Covering it in a plastic bag when bathing Wearing a raincoat or using an umbrella when you are outside in the rain.
Insert anything like a pen inside the cast to scratch. This may damage the inside of the cast or, if you cut yourself, cause the skin to become infected. Put anti-itch medicines inside the cast. This includes baby powder, lotions, creams, or anti-itch oils.
As the arm heals, a child may stop being as careful with the arm that is in the cast. Inspect the cast regularly to make sure that it has no cracks or tears in it. If you have a cast that you can write on, ask family and friends to sign it with encouraging messages.
