Feb 13, 2025 · Water can dissolve plaster casts and cause plaster casts to irritate your skin, so only spot-clean them with a damp (not wet) cloth, then dry them off completely. The best way to keep them clean is to prevent them from getting dirty in the first place, so keep them away from sand and dirt and limit your physical activity to prevent sweating.

Mar 10, 2024 · If you need a cast for a broken arm, to mend after knee surgery, or for another injury, you may wear it for several weeks or months. The cast keeps your bone or joint from moving so it can heal.

Casts are made with plaster or fiberglass for the sturdiness to support your bones, torn ligaments or tendons, or other tissues as they heal. Underneath the shell of the cast is padding and cotton, which act as a protective layer for your skin.

Oct 2, 2017 · Food splatters can leave stains, smells, and sticky residues before you know it. Crumbs can also make their way inside the cast, leading to bad odors or risking infection. Prevent this by wearing long sleeves or slipping a plastic liner over a wrist/arm cast.

Aug 10, 2011 · Most of the time a doctor will want you to come back for an expensive cast change so they can charge you a ton of money to fix your broken leg or arm cast with a cast change. First, clean the cast up a bit by using a sponge or rag to wipe away the dirt.

Keeping the cast clean is important, but for the occasional mess, like dropping food on your cast or getting it dirty, follow these tips: For a plaster cast, clean it with a slightly damp towel. Do not get the cast wet, but just wipe it down with a damp towel.

The outside of a cast can be made of plaster or fiberglass. Cotton and synthetic materials line the inside of the cast to make it soft and to provide padding around bony areas, such as the wrist or elbow.

Sep 28, 2018 · When you break a bone or tissue in your body becomes injured, your primary care or orthopedic provider may prescribe a cast to immobilize the bone above and below the joint nearest to the injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, your provider will choose either fiberglass or plaster for the cast material.

Be especially careful with a plaster cast for the first 1 to 2 days because it can easily crack or break while it is drying and hardening. It can take up to 24 to 48 hours for the cast to completely harden.

Jan 11, 2016 · Casts are hard, made with plaster or fiberglass, while splints are lighter and can be taken on and off more easily. These are important to protecting you while your injury heals, so follow these tips to take good care of your cast or splint.