If itching persists, use a hairdryer, set on COOL only, to blow air down into the cast.
#Body cast skin
Objects may move padding, or scratch or irritate the skin and lead to an infection. If your child complains of severe itching underneath the cast, do not place anything into the cast. If you have a plaster cast, the cast should not be petaled until it is completely dry. If some petals start peeling or are soiled, simply trim away the tape and reinforce with more waterproof tape. You will be given waterproof tape in your Spica Starter-Kit so you can reinforce the loose petals at home. Overlap the strips and reinforce them when they wrinkle or loosen. Tuck the square end inside the cast smoothly and bring the rounded edge over the cast outside. To petal the cast, cut the waterproof tape into two-and-a-half-inch strips and round one end to prevent the tape from rolling. Petal-shaped waterproof tape strips are folded over the cast edges to make it smooth and comfortable. Exposed ankles, knees, elbows and heels may be rubbed with lotion if they become dry or irritated.īecause the edges of the cast are rough, the cast will be “petaled” before your child goes home from the hospital to prevent skin irritation. Do not use lotion or powder at cast edges because it might build-up, making the skin softer and causing more irritation. After a sponge bath, it is okay to use a blow dryer on their skin (on COOL setting only) to assist with drying. This will help toughen the skin and protect it from irritations. Clean the toes and skin near the cast edges with witch hazel, an astringent found in most drug stores. Use plastic wrap and towels to protect the cast. Give a sponge bath instead, being careful not to get the cast wet. While in a spica cast, your child will not be able to take a bath. If your child is experiencing any of these, please call telehealth. Infant and Young Children: In addition to the above, young children may demonstrate signs of infection through altered eating, altered sleep, irritability or fever. School-Aged or Adolescent Children: Drainage seeping through the cast pain at the incision site under the cast foul odor coming from the cast or increase or decrease in warmth from under the cast. It is important to make sure the incision is not infected, so pay attention to the following signs as they may suggest an infection is present: Your child's incisions are covered by a cast. If your child develops diarrhea and soiling occurs under the cast, cast repairs may be needed to prevent skin breakdown. If the skin remains wet, contact your telehealth nurse right away.
#Body cast crack
If the cast gets wet, it may soften or crack and lose its proper position.
Avoid sandboxes and try to keep foreign objects out as much as possible. The cast must be kept as clean and dry as possible. Protecting the cast from damage, dirt and moisture is difficult-especially when the patient is a young child. If this doesn't work, please call telehealth. If you notice any rough edges, you can apply fleece or other petals to help reduce harsh areas. Report any foul or musty smell.Ĭheck all edges around your cast.
If swelling increases, call the telehealth nurse line. Fingers and toes should be warm to the touch, have no numbness, tingling or pain, and move as they did before the cast was applied. If the fingernail bed is pressed, it should turn white and then return to pink within 1 to 3 seconds when pressure is released. Use the penlight to check that there are no crumbs or small items such as small toys or coins inside the cast.įingers and toes should be pink.
Report any pressure sores to the telehealth nurse line. Keep the patient positioned so there is no pressure at all on this area. If the area stays reddened for 30 minutes after the pressure is removed, a pressure sore may be developing. If there are reddened areas, change the patient’s position to remove the pressure from that area. Closely inspect the skin using the penlight from your kit at the edges of the cast, and look under the cast to check the skin underneath. Pressure sores, or areas of injured skin caused by staying in one position for too long, form most often on the heels and near the tailbone. Standing or walking in the cast is not allowed unless approved by your doctor.Ĭheck your child's skin at least two times per day to make sure there is no irritation. A fiberglass cast will dry within one hour. A plaster cast should not be signed, decorated or covered for at least one day after it’s applied. A plaster cast will not be completely dry for 24 to 48 hours.
A plaster or fiberglass spica cast is applied by the medical/cast team after surgery, but before your child wakes up.
0 kommentar(er)
