Plaster Care

Plaster Care

It is important to look after your child’s plaster cast correctly whilst healing of the fractured limb occurs.

You can care for your child and their plaster by taking the following steps:

• In the first few days after the cast has been applied, encourage rest and allow the cast to dry completely.
• Keep the plaster dry. Use a plastic bag with bathing.
• Do not scratch under the plaster with objects as this may cause an infection.
• Keep the limb elevated as much as possible.
• Keep the arm in a sling when moving around to support it. Rest on pillows when lying/sitting down.
• Do not cut the plaster.
• Do not walk on a plastered limb (ie; leg or foot), use crutches as instructed.
• Swelling is possible around the fingers and toes, check the cast is not becoming too tight and encourage your child to wiggle their fingers and toes to keep the blood flowing.

Things to look out for:

• Inability to move fingers and toes.
• Pins and needles or numbness.
• Fingers and toes are cool or hot to touch.
• Pale or bluish appearance to the skin.

If these symptoms occur you should raise the limb above the heart. If the symptoms are still there after 20 minutes, you should seek medical attention.