CASTS & SPLINTS

presentaion
GENERAL INFORMATION
• Splints and casts support and protect injured
bones and soft tissue, reducing pain, swelling,
and muscle spasm. In some cases, splints and
casts are applied following surgery
• Casts are custom-made and applied by your
doctor or an assistant. Casts are often made of
plaster or fiberglass. Splints or half casts also
can be custom-made, especially if an exact fit
is necessary. Other times, a ready-made splint
will be used. These off-the-shelf splints are
made in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are
much easier and faster to use. They have
Velcro straps which make the splints easy to
adjust, and easier to put on and take off.
Unfortunately, splints offer less support and
protection than a cast and may not a treatment
option in all circumstances
GENERAL INFORMATION
• Fiberglass or plaster materials form the hard
supportive layer in splints and casts.
Fiberglass is lighter in weight, longer
wearing, and "breathes" better than plaster.
Both materials come in strips or rolls which
are dipped in water and applied over a layer
of cotton or synthetic padding covering the
injured area. Both fiberglass and plaster
splints and casts use padding, usually cotton,
as a protective layer next to the skin. When
cotton padding, synthetic padding, or plaster
is used in the making of a cast, the cast must
be kept dry. If these materials become wet
significant problems may develop. When a
plaster cast gets wet, the cast becomes soft,
loses strength, and may no longer adequately
immobilize the injured area.
GENERAL INFORMATION
• As a result, the wet skin under the wet padding
may develop rashes, infections, or become
macerated. All of these conditions, require
further treatment. To keep these types of casts
dry, it is necessary to wear plastic shower bags
which are commercially available.
• Recently, Gortex cast padding has been
developed. This padding is completely
waterproof and allows a patient to completely
immerse the cast in water without requiring the
protection of a plastic bag. With this type of cast
padding, coupled with the application of a
fiberglass cast, patients may do activities such
as showering and swimming without worrying
about keeping the injured extremity dry.
However, there are some clinical circumstances
when this type of cast padding may not be
applied.
GENERAL INFORMATION
• The splint or cast must fit the shape of the
injured arm or leg correctly to provide the
best possible support. Sometimes, it may be
necessary to replace a cast as swelling
decreases and the cast "gets too big." Often
as a fracture heals, a splint may be applied
again to allow easy removal for therapy.
CAST CARE TIPS
DO's of CAST CARE
• Swelling due to your injury may cause pressure
in your splint or cast for the first 48 to 72 hours.
This may cause your injured arm or leg to feel
snug or tight in the splint or cast. To reduce the
swelling:
1. Elevate your injured arm or leg above your heart
by propping it up on pillows or some other
support. You will have to recline if the splint or
cast is on your leg. Elevation allows clear fluid
and blood to drain "downhill" to your heart.
2. Exercise the fingers or toes to decrease
swelling and prevent stiffness and to increase
circulation
3. Apply ice to the splint or cast. Place the ice in a
dry plastic bag or ice pack and loosely wrap it
around the splint or cast at the level of the injury
DO's of CAST CARE
• Keep your cast dry if it has a cotton or synthetic
lining or if it is a plaster cast. Use a shower bag
for bathing
• If you have a Gortex cast, you may shower or
swim, but rinse well with tap water afterwards
• File down any rough spots with an emery board
• To ease any discomfort from itching, you may
blow cool air inside the cast with a hair dryer
• Check circulation by pressing on the nail bed.
The nail should turn pale when pressed, but
normal color should return immediately when
the pressure on the nail is removed. If this does
not happen, contact your physician
• Inspect the skin around the cast. If your skin
becomes red or raw around the cast, contact
your doctor
DO's of CAST CARE
• Inspect the cast regularly. If it becomes
cracked or develops soft spots, contact your
doctor
• Keep dirt, sand, and powder away from the
inside of your splint or cast
DON'Ts of CAST CARE
• Do not get your cast wet, unless you have a
Gortex cast.
• Do not insert any object objects such as coat
hangers into the cast to relieve itching.
Instead, use the cool setting on a hair dryer to
blow air into the cast.
• Do not apply powders or deodorants to
itching skin. If itching persists, contact your
doctor
• Do not pull out the cast padding. It is there to
protect your skin
• Do not break or trim the cast edges
WARNING SIGNS
FOLLOWING
SPLINT/CAST
APPLICATION
DON'Ts of CAST CARE
• Increased pain and swelling which is not
controlled with ice, elevation, and/or pain
medication.
• A feeling that the splint or cast is too tight.
• Numbness and tingling in your hand or foot.
• Burning and stinging.
• Excessive swelling below the cast.
• Loss of active movement of toes or fingers,
which requires an urgent evaluation by your
doctor.
• A feeling of a blister developing in your cast.
• A feeling that your calf is becoming swollen,
tight and painful inside the cast.
• You notice any unusual odor coming from
inside the cast.
• If the cast breaks or becomes too loose.
DON'Ts of CAST CARE
• If the cast edges are causing skin problems.
• If a fever develops.
Commonly Used Splints
Commonly Used Splints
• Sugar Tong
• Ulnar Gutter
• Volar Wrist Splint
• Thumb Spica
• Posterior Lower Leg
• Posterior Full Leg
• Posterior Elbow
• Finger Splints
• Ankle Stirrup
• Shin splint
Short video
General Casting Techniques
• The general principles of cast application are
demonstrated in this video showing the
application of a short arm cast.
Vietnam Sling
• How to apply a Vietnam sling for shoulder
injuries.
Sugar tong splint
• How to apply a sugar tong splint for a fracture
of the humerus.
Posterior slab for the elbow
• How to apply a long arm posterior slab splint.
Ulnar gutter splint
• How to apply an ulnar gutter splint.
Colles’ wrist fracture cast
• How to apply a cast for a reduced Colles’
fracture.
Short arm cast
• How to apply a short arm cast.
Volar slab
• How to apply a volar slab splint to the
forearm.
Thumb spica cast
• How to apply a thumb spica cast.
Boxer’s cast
• How to apply a cast for a boxer’s fracture.
Thumb gutter splint
• How to apply a thumb spica gutter splint.
Long leg cast
• How to apply a long leg cast.
Cylinder cast
• how to apply a long leg cylinder cast for
fractures of the patella.
Short leg cast
• How to apply a below knee non-weight
bearing cast
Posterior slab for the ankle
• How to apply a below knee posterior slab
splint
Short leg walker cast
• How to apply a below knee walking cast
Walking heel application
• How to apply a walking heel to a below knee
cast.
Cast removal
• How to use a cast saw to safely remove a
cast.
Thank You =)
By:
mubarak alonazi
abdullah alonazi