Care of your cast

Different types of cast dry and reach their maximum strength in different amounts of time.

• A plaster of Paris arm cast takes 24 hours to dry.
• A plaster of Paris leg cast takes 48 hours to dry.
• A fibreglass cast takes 20 minutes to dry.

Do not dry the cast with a heater or hair dryer. You will burn your skin under the cast.

Do not rest a plaster of Paris cast on hard surfaces while it is drying. This can cause a dent in the cast, which can lead to skin problems.

Do not walk on your leg cast unless:

• you have been fitted with a cast shoe
• your healthcare provider says it is ok to.

Do not chip, crush, cut or break your cast.

Do not get the cast wet (unless it is a waterproof cast). Moisture will weaken or destroy the cast and can damage your skin under the cast.

When you have a bath or shower, make sure to:

• wrap a towel around your plaster
• cover the towel with a well-sealed plastic bag.

You may be able to buy a waterproof cast cover from a pharmacy or online.

Contact the place that fitted your cast, or your healthcare provider, as soon as possible if your cast:

• feels too tight, too loose or is rubbing
• is broken, cracked or soft
• gets wet
• has something inside it.

You should also contact them if you have:

• prolonged numbness or tingling — like pins and needles, or you cannot move your fingers or toes
• blue or white fingers or toes, or they feel cold
• increased swelling or pain in the affected limb
• a burning sensation under the cast
• symptoms of infection, such as a fever, unusual pain or a foul smell from the cast.

The cast will help to reduce the pain of your injury, but you may still need pain relief. Your healthcare provider will prescribe this.

There may be swelling for the first few days. Keep your limb and cast raised above the level of your heart.

• If your arm or hand is in a cast, do some finger and elbow or shoulder exercises.
• If your leg or ankle is in a cast, move your toes.

Care of your arm and hand while in a wrist cast

Sometimes you can get itchy under the cast. Do not insert anything under the plaster — such as a back scratcher, knitting needle, pen or powder — to relieve the itching.

Doing so can damage your skin and cause an infection.

Pushing the padding further down into the cast can cause it to bunch up, resulting in pressure on your skin.

To help relieve the itching, you can:

• use a hair dryer set on cool to blow cool air down the inside of the cast
• put a covered ice pack on your skin near the cast, being careful not to get the cast wet.

Sometimes the cast can rub your skin and make it sore. If the pressure on the skin is not relieved, a wound called a pressure injury can develop under the plaster cast.

Pressure injuries

Remember to sponge clean the fingers or toes of the limb in the cast.

It is best not to play sport while you are in an arm or leg cast.

If your leg is in a cast, bring your crutches with you to every follow-up appointment in case your plaster is changed or removed. You may need them when you first come out of a cast until your ankle loosens up and you become confident walking again without the protection of the cast.

Return your crutches to where you got them from when you no longer need them.

Using a pair of crutches

If you want to fly while wearing a cast, you should always contact the airline before your flight. In some cases, you and your healthcare provider will need to complete a medical fitness for air travel form (MEDA). Make sure you do this well before your travel time.

Your injured arm or leg can swell in the days after your cast is fitted, and this can affect your circulation and increase your risk of blood clots.

Depending on your flight time, the airline may ask you to wait for a period of time after having your cast fitted.

• For flights shorter than 2 hours, wait at least 24 hours.
• For flights longer than 2 hours, wait at least 48 hours.

If you need to fly before these times, the airline may allow it if your cast is split along its whole length. You will need to contact the place that put your cast on to do this. You will also need to arrange for your cast to be replaced at your destination.

If you have an arm cast or a leg cast that does not go above your knee, you should be able to sit in a normal seat.

If you have a larger cast, you may need extra seating, and you will probably have to pay for this. Most airlines will not let you sit in the emergency exit row.

If you are using crutches, you should contact the airline before your flight. Some airlines will store crutches in the hold during the flight. You will need to think about how easily you will be able to move when you are in the air.