Cast Care

Your child may receive an arm or leg cast that is used to keep an extremity immobile after a serious injury.

What To Do in the First 48 Hours?

• Do not rest the cast on a hard surface or sharp edge. It can leave a dent which can cause pressure areas.
• Keep the cast elevated as much as possible to prevent swelling.
• Do not write or draw on the cast for the first 48 hours.
• Give ibuprofen (Advil or Pediaprofen) every 6 hours as needed for pain. Check with your doctor for the dosage level.

How Do I Care For the Cast?

• Do not walk or put weight on the cast unless your doctor says to do so.
• Keep long arm casts in a sling at all times except when sleeping.
• Do not get the cast wet for any reason.
• Do not allow your child to place objects inside the cast.
• Do not use devices (such as knitting needles, coat hangers, etc.) to scratch underneath the cast.
• Your child can take a bath if the cast can be covered with a plastic bag and kept above the water. Do not take showers.
• Keep the skin around the cast edges clean and dry. You can put rubbing alcohol on the skin near the cast edge to prevent irritation.
• If the cast edge feels rough, you can put adhesive tape around it or "petal" around the edge with moleskin. Ask your doctor or nurse how to do this.
• If your child is unable to go to school, ask his/her teacher to provide homework assignments and ask for a tutor if necessary.

Return to the Emergency Department or See Your Orthopedic Doctor if:

• Your child's fingers or toes feel numb or cold, or look blue or pale.
• Your child complains of tingling, tightness, or pain in the injured arm or leg.
• There is pain under the cast in one spot, or pain anywhere for no apparent reason.
• It hurts your child to move the fingers or toes.
• Your child has a fever.
• You smell a bad odor coming from the cast.
• The skin around the cast edge is red or irritated.
• The cast gets wet or is soft or cracked.
• The pain medication does not make your child feel better.

Use of Crutches

• Walk with crutches as demonstrated. Do not put weight on the cast unless told to do so.
• Help your child go up and down stairs until you are comfortable he/she can do it well.
• Do not have your child rest his/her underarms on the crutches.
• Putting weight on the underarms can cause nerve damage.
• Always use crutches with rubber tips, and wipe the tips dry if they get wet so they are not slippery.