What Are The Different Types Of Cast?

Types of casts

• Plaster cast. This is made from gauze and plaster strips soaked in water.
• Synthetic cast. This is made from fiberglass or plastic strips.
• Cast brace. This is made of hard plastic.
• Splint (also called a half cast). This is made from slabs of plaster or fiberglass that hold the injury still.

How many different types of casts are there?

There are two main types of casts, plaster and fiberglass.

What is a full body cast called?

Body casts, plaster cast, surgical cast. An orthopedic cast, or simply cast, is a shell, frequently made from plaster or fiberglass, that encases a limb (or, in some cases, large portions of the body) to stabilize and hold anatomical structures—most often a broken bone (or bones), in place until healing is confirmed.

What is the difference between a hard cast and a soft cast?

The outside, or hard part of the cast, is made from two different kinds of casting materials. Cotton and other synthetic materials are used to line the inside of the cast to make it soft and to provide padding around bony areas, such as the wrist or elbow.

What is a hard cast?

A hard cast, sometimes referred to as an orthopedic cast, is a hard shell made from fiberglass or plaster. This type of cast is hard and not removable or fitted for flexibility. This casts main function is to hold and stabilize broken bones until the bone heals.

What are the 4 types of splints?

Splint Types

• Hand. Buddy tape splint. Finger splint.
• Arm. Coaptation splint. Forearm volar splint‎ Long arm posterior splint. Radial gutter splint. Sling and swathe splint. Sugar tong splint. Double sugar tong splint. Thumb spica splint. Ulnar gutter splint.
• Leg. Long leg posterior splint. Stirrup splint. Posterior ankle splint.

What kind of cast is used for a broken ankle?

Fiberglass. A fiberglass cast is lightweight, durable, and porous. Fiberglass casts are designed to allow air to circulate to your foot and ankle. If your doctor needs to X-ray your ankle while it heals, a fiberglass cast is an ideal choice.

Do casts hurt?

The cast keeps your bone or joint from moving so it can heal. But it also can cause discomfort and problems, from an annoying itch to a serious infection.

What are three reasons you may contact your doctor regarding your cast?

When Should I Call the Doctor?

• The cast feels too tight.
• The cast was comfortable but is now uncomfortable.
• You have new pain or pain that gets worse.
• Your fingers or toes get more swollen, change colors, hurt, or feel numb.
• Something is stuck in the cast, like a piece of food.

Can bones shift in a cast?

Even after reduction and immobilization with a cast or splint, your bones can shift. So your doctor likely will monitor your progress with X-rays. If your bones move, you might then need surgery.

What type of cast is used for a broken wrist?

Casts come in many shapes and sizes, but the two most common types of cast material used are plaster and fiberglass. While casts can be uncomfortable and cumbersome, they are an effective and efficient method to treat fractures.

What are broken bones casts?

Casts are partly made from fiberglass or plaster, which form the hard layer that protects the injured limb and keeps it immobilized. Fiberglass has several advantages compared to plaster. It weighs less, so the cast made from it will be lighter. More durable and porous, fiberglass allows air to flow in and out.

Are casts waterproof?

Most casts are made of fiberglass. Fiberglass is a kind of plastic that is moldable and dries hard. Some fiberglass casts are waterproof. Less often, casts are made of plaster of paris.

What goes under a cast?

The inside layer may be a “sock-like” material called a stockinette and is used more often with casts than with splints. Padding is also used to protect the skin and tissues under it and to make casts and splints more comfortable. Padding can be made from cotton or a man-made material.

How are casts removed?

How Are Casts Taken Off? The cast is taken off with a small electrical saw. The saw cuts through the cast material but stops before it touches the skin.

What are the 3 types of splints and explain each?

Rigid Splint: Any rigid object, such as wood or plastic boards, broomstick, book or a rolled-out newspapers, which can be used to splint a fractured arm or leg. Flexible Splint: Any flexible object, like a pillow or a bed sheet with several folds. This type is used for foot, ankle and joint fractures.

What is the most common type of splint?

Wrist splints provide rigid support to allow proper healing, decreased pain, and sustained alignment. The three most common types of wrist splint are volar, thumb spica, and sugar tong, each of which has its own indications.

What are the two classes of fractures?

Types of Fractures

• Displaced Fracture: bone breaks into two or more pieces and moves out of alignment.
• Non-Displaced Fracture: the bone breaks but does not move out of alignment.
• Closed Fracture: the skin is not broken.

How long do you wear a cast for a broken ankle?

You’ll probably wear a cast or walking boot for around six to10 weeks after an ankle break or fracture. After this, you’ll probably continue to wear a boot for another few weeks to support your ankle as you start to weight your injured ankle again.

Is a walking boot better than a cast?

Short-leg walking boots (WBs) have been reported to be an effective alternative to plaster casts (PCs) that could shorten this postoperative recuperative period. The aim of this study was to compare the functional recovery of a conventional PC with that of a WB after surgery for ankle fractures.

What is the fastest way to heal a broken ankle?

Rest: Rest is key. Staying off your injury will help you heal faster. You will likely wear a cast to help keep the foot and ankle immobilized. Ice: Ice the area for 20 minutes at a time to help with swelling and inflammation.