Information for patients This leaflet can be made available in other formats including large print, CD and Braille and in languages other than English, upon request. You have had a plaster cast put on your arm or leg. This leaflet tells you how to care for your arm or leg while it is in a cast. Care of a drying cast While your cast is drying, please take care not to rest it against any hard surface, such as a stool or chair. The damp plaster must not be covered; this allows the cast to dry out. Plaster of Paris can take up to 24 hours to dry completely. Never attempt to speed up the drying process by using a hairdryer or heater as this could result in the cast cracking. It may also cause you pain or burning of the skin under the cast. Please inform plaster room staff if you are diabetic or have reduced feeling in the limb that is injured. If you have an arm cast You must: use a sling, if you were given one, for the first 12 hours; remember to exercise any joints not covered in plaster, for example, your fingers, elbow or shoulder. This will help to prevent stiffness and swelling. (See exercises later in this leaflet). Keep your arm raised, if possible above the level of your heart. If you have a plaster that goes above your elbow you may be given a collar and cuff to support your arm. This can be removed to exercise your shoulder and fingers and when in bed. Follow the advice given by your doctor, nurse or orthopaedic practitioner (a person who specialises in the treatment of bones and joints). If you have a leg cast You must: Ortho/232.4 (2017) Page 1 of 5 For Review Summer 2020
not walk on your cast for at least 30 minutes to allow it to dry not walk on the plaster until given permission to do so use the plaster shoe you were given to wear when you walk in the cast. This must be worn to protect the cast and give some grip when walking use crutches (if you were given them) at all times when you are walking keep your leg raised above the level of your hip when resting. You can use pillows or a stool to help when sitting. Your leg must be moved often to stop pressure damage exercise any joints not covered in plaster, for example, toes, ankle, knee and hip. This will help to prevent stiffness and swelling. attend your fracture clinic appointment. follow the advice given by your doctor, nurse or orthopaedic practitioner. How do I take care of my plaster cast? You should: keep the cast dry exercise and keep your arm or leg raised, this will reduce the risk of swelling, especially for the first few days not put anything down your cast to scratch not remove the cotton wool padding from inside of your cast as this may damage your skin not apply heat to your cast not cover your cast with a plastic bag for more than 15 minutes as this can cause condensation inside the bag, making the plaster damp clean with a damp (not wet) cloth if needed. You should telephone the plaster room immediately, if you notice any of the following: swelling of your fingers or toes Ortho/232.4 (2017) Page 2 of 5 For Review Summer 2020
increased pain in your arm or leg blueness of your fingers or toes; not bruising pins and needles or coldness in your fingers or toes loss of feeling in your fingers or toes you are unable to move your fingers or toes if you have a wound that leaks or smells. Out of hours you should attend the Urgent Care Centre or telephone 111. You must go to the Accident and Emergency Department immediately if you have either of the following: increasing pain in your calf pain in your chest, or shortness of breath. Exercise while in a plaster cast Hand exercises These exercises should be done at least 10 times every day to prevent stiffness: make a tight fist with your fingers and thumb, relax it then make a fist again spread your fingers and thumb wide apart, relax and then spread them again exercise any joints not covered in plaster, for example; elbow or shoulder. Do not allow your hand to hang down for any length of time, as it may become swollen and painful. Foot exercises These exercises should be done at least 10 times every day to prevent stiffness: bend your toes and then straighten them if your cast allows, bend your knee and move your hip. Do not allow your leg to hang down for any length of time as it may become swollen and painful. Will I need to return to hospital? You will be given an appointment to return to the hospital. It is very important to keep this appointment. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend so we can rearrange your appointment. Ortho/232.4 (2017) Page 3 of 5 For Review Summer 2020
Please telephone the plaster room to arrange an appointment if you experience any problems, including: sore areas under your cast the cast cracks, becomes loose or soft. Contact numbers If you have any worries or concerns please contact the unit where you were treated. University Hospital of North Tees Plaster Room telephone: 01642 624492 Monday to Friday, 8.30 am - 4.30 pm Saturday, 9.00 am - 11.00 am Outside these hours you should contact: Urgent Care Centre Telephone no: 01642 382702 University Hospital of Hartlepool Plaster Room telephone: 01429 522592 Monday Friday, 8.30 am 4.00 pm Outside these hours you should contact: Urgent Care Centre Telephone no: 01642 382702 Further information is available from NHS Choices telephone: 111 (when it is less urgent than 999) Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobile phones or via the website at www.nhs.uk Ortho/232.4 (2017) Page 4 of 5 For Review Summer 2020
This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Quality Assurance Team, University Hospital of North Tees or email: patientinformation@nth.nhs.uk Comments, Concerns, Compliments or Complaints We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we re doing well or if there s anything which we can improve, that s why the Patient Experience Team is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact: telephone: 01642 624719 Monday Friday, 9.00 am 4.00 pm Messages can be left on the answering machine and will be picked up throughout the day. freephone: 0800 092 0084 Mobile: (can use text): 0779 506 1883 Email: patientexperience@nth.nhs.uk Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person. telephone: 01642 617617 The Patient Experience Team is available to discuss your concerns in person Monday Friday, 1.30 pm 4.30 pm. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees. Data Protection and use of patient information The Trust has developed a Data Protection Policy in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1988 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect this policy and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information please contact the Information Governance Team. telephone: 01642 833551 or email: information.governance@nth.nhs.uk University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton-on-Tees. TS19 8PE University Hospital of Hartlepool, Holdforth Road, Hartlepool. TS24 9AH Telephone: 01642 617617 Fax: 01642 624089 Ortho/232.4 (2017) Page 5 of 5 For Review Summer 2020