APPLYING AND REMOVING A CAST
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Now that you have had a cast put on by a health-care professional, here is some advice that will
help you care for your limb and cast.
PURPOSE OF A CAST
It immobilizes a fracture or sprain (leg, ankle,
arm, etc.) to promote healing.
HOW LONG WILL I HAVE
TO WEAR THE CAST?
Fiberglass Cast
This type is used for fractures with little or no
displacement. It dries within about 30 minutes
of application. Only health-care personnel can
tell you if this type of cast is suitable for your
injury.
CASTS AND WATER
Immobilization time can vary from four weeks
to more than three months, depending on the
severity of the injury.
You should never let your cast get wet. A wet
cast can cause skin irritation due to
dampness, resulting in sores and possibly
infection. Therefore:
TYPES OF CASTS

Never direct water onto a limb in a cast.

Before taking a shower or bath,
cover the upper part of the cast
with a towel and plastic bag. The
mouth of the bag must be sealed to
keep water out. Specially made
covers can be purchased in
pharmacies.

Protect your cast from rain and
snow.
Plaster of Paris
This type is used with displaced fractures and
following surgery. Even though this type of
cast hardens rapidly, it takes 24 to 48 hours to
dry completely. Do not apply pressure to the
cast and avoid contact with hard surfaces
before it has had time to dry to prevent
denting.
Only fiberglass casts with waterproof
padding can get fully wet (bath, shower,
swimming pool). There is a fee for this type
of cast.
AFTER SURGERY
RISKS OF COMPLICATIONS

Call 819-346-1110, extension 22096, if any of
the following occur:


If you have sutures or staples, they will be
removed about 2 weeks after your
operation. If pins were used to fix a
fracture, the follow-up will take place
6 weeks after the operation. If no follow-up
has been planned, call the orthopedics
appointment center.
While the procedure for removing pins is
not painful, it can cause some discomfort.
You can take an analgesic (Tylenol, Advil)
once you get to the hospital on the day of
your appointment. While it is not
necessary, you can take the same
medication to have staples removed if you
are sensitive to pain.
Avoid getting your surgery site wet until the
little holes left by the staples or pins have
closed (about 2 days).









Pallor or bluish color in your extremities
New pain in the calf or difficulty breathing
Increased pain despite medication
Loss of or reduced mobility of your fingers
or toes
Loss of or reduced sensation
Burning, numbness, or tingling sensation
High fever
Odor of mildew or mold from the cast
If your cast is too big, very uncomfortable,
or damaged. In this case, your next
appointment can be moved up.
If you have any concerns about your condition,
call Info-Santé 811.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
CONTACT INFORMATION

Keep the limb in the cast elevated on
pillows to reduce swelling, especially for
the first 48 hours.
Orthopedics Appointment Center

Move your fingers or toes often to maintain
circulation.

Move all your joints not immobilized to
prevent stiffness.

Do not alter your cast.
Authors
 CHUS Orthopedics Team
 Cast Room Nursing Staff
 Program for Surgical Patients
Editing and Production
 Program for Surgical Patients
 DCAP

Use a hair dryer to direct cool air down
into the cast to alleviate itching. To avoid
injury, never insert anything (such as a
ruler or wire) inside the cast.
CAST REMOVAL
The cast is removed with an oscillating saw
that cuts using vibration. While the saw is
noisy, it will not hurt you.
819-346-1110, extension 26731
© Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS)
Chus.qc.ca
July 2014 – 1-6-71714