Plasters and casts

Your plaster will not be fully dry for 72 hours (2 hours for fibreglass) and you should treat it very carefully.

You should:

• Keep the limb in plaster raised when you are sitting for the first 24 hours rested on pillows
• Exercise all the parts not covered by the plaster i.e. shoulders, knee, fingers or toes
• Keep well hydrated

You should not:

• Get the plaster wet.
• Walk on the plaster unless you have been told you can do so.
• Heat the plaster as it will conduct and retain heat which may burn you.
• Scratch the skin under the plaster or stick anything such as knitting needles inside the cast.
• Let anyone write on the plaster until it is dry.
• Rest your plaster on anything hard.
• Take your plaster off.

GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OR WALK IN CENTRE AT ONCE IF:

 ·        Your fingers/toes become numb, blue, very cold or swollen and they do not get better even if you keep them raised for a while

·        The plaster is uncomfortable or is hurting you because it is too tight, too loose, or rubbing you.

·        The plaster becomes soft or cracks