Plasters splint bone or soft tissue injuries in order to maintain position, protect operations, or to rest the limb for swelling and pain.
Plasters splint bone or soft tissue injuries in order to maintain position, protect operations, or to rest the limb for swelling and pain.
Things to look out for
Swelling inside the plaster can be critical. If you have increasing pain under a plaster, the limb needs to be elevated and iced. If the pain continues, then, if possible, the plaster should be released. If it is a full cast then you will need to attend the ED (or clinic if during working hours).
Localised pain can mean critical pressure on the skin. This can occur if the plaster is too tight, but also when the plaster becomes too loose and rubs. Persisting areas of pain need to be looked at by us or in the emergency department.
Do not get them wet. Wet plasters need to be changed. Use a plastic bag over the plaster to shower.
Weight bearing
We will be clear with how much weight you can put through the plaster or splint. Exceeding this may damage the plaster, or displace the fracture.
Most plasters that we use at Orthopaedics WA are temporary, half plasters (‘backslabs’). These are to allow swelling to go down before or after surgery, and are usually replaced by splints or full casts.
Care of backslab
- Keep them dry
- Tighten the bandage if they become loose.
See the Related links on this page.