Home Care Tips

Cast Care

• It is normal for your child to have some discomfort while in the cast. Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil can be given for this discomfort.
• The cast will feel warm to your child during the casting procedure, this is normal and it cools as it hardens.
• The cast material will be slightly soft when fully applied, it takes a couple of minutes to reach its state of hardness, be careful not to dent or crack the cast.
• The cast may be signed or written on but it is best to wait 24 hours. You can permanent markers for best results, paint, oil based products and stickers do not adhere well to the cast material, in addition they clog the pores of the material and do not allow air to get to the skin
• Keep cast dry and clean. If the cast gets really dirty it can be gently cleaned with a very slightly damp cloth. If the cast gets wet do not cover it. If the cast is saturated please contact the therapist or take them to an urgent care to have the cast removed. If the cast stays wet it will start to smell and can cause skin problems underneath the cast.
• For the first few days after a cast is applied the fingers or toes can become slightly swollen. Try to elevate the extremity above the heart as much as possible to help keep the swelling down.
• Check the skin around the openings of the cast daily. Look for any areas that are red, dry, extremely swollen, cracked or bleeding areas, also look for circulation. If there is an area of roughness that is in contact with the skin you may use a nail file to file down the cast material to stop it from rubbing.
• Do NOT use powders or lotions around the cast or into the cast. These products can cause skin irritations and breakdown.
• Do NOT stick anything into the cast This can injure the skin or damage the lining of the cast to cause pressure on the skin.
• Do NOT pull padding out of the cast as this can change the pressure inside the cast and cause pressure sores to the skin
• Do NOT remove the cast yourself
• Exposed areas around the cast can be carefully washed with a washcloth and mild soap, just have an adult assist with washing if necessary to ensure that the cast is not getting wet

Splint Wear and Care

• Please follow your therapist’s instructions on the splint schedule as it is different for each individual we treat
• The splint must be applied correctly to get the extremity into the right position, please call the therapist if there are problems about the splint application
• Wash the splint with cool water and a mild soap, make sure to dry the splint entirely before applying it. If there is any moisture on the splint it can cause skin breakdown
• DO NOT leave the splint anywhere that excess heat can get to it such as the car, on a dryer, over a heating vent, by a hair dryer, etc. If it is near heat it can cause the splint to loose its shape and it will not fit properly.
• When taking splint off please note if there are areas of redness that DO NOT go away within 15-20 minutes. If the redness does not go away the splint is not fitting properly and must be adjusted or it can cause serious skin breakdown.
• If your child complains of pain or discomfort with the splint on to where they can not tolerate it please call the therapist.
• DO NOT allow your child to bang splint or use it as any kind of a weapon as it can crack the splint material.
• If your child has outgrown the splint or the straps please contact your therapist.

Bathing with a Cast

Make sure to cover the extremity with a plastic bag and seal it, in order to do this please follow the directions below:

• Put a plastic bag with no holes over the extremity
• Gather material above the cast
• Tape bag 2” below the ends snuggly all the way around the extremity
• Fold excess material over the tape
• Tape the folded material
• Remove tape and bag at end of shower, check to make sure the cast is not wet

The information contained on this site is for general information only and should not be used as a substitution for medical, emotional, legal or financial counsel or advice.