Caring for a plaster cast: dos and don'ts

After a fracture, a plaster cast holds the broken bone still so it heals in the right position. How you care for it in the first days and weeks matters a great deal.

Do

• For the first 2–3 days, rest the arm or leg on pillows above the level of your chest to reduce swelling
• Move the fingers or toes outside the cast regularly
• Keep the cast dry: cover it well with a plastic bag when you bathe
• Always come to your follow-up appointment

Don't

• Push sticks, pens or anything else inside to scratch an itch
• Cut or trim the cast yourself
• Walk on a leg cast until your doctor says you may
• Put powder or oil inside the cast

Get help now, or go to an emergency department, if

• The pain keeps getting worse and medicine doesn't help
• The fingers or toes swell and turn blue or white, or feel cold
• The fingers or toes are numb, tingling, or you can't move them
• There is a bad smell or fluid from inside the cast, or a fever
• The cast is cracked or has become very loose

After the cast comes off

• It is normal for the joint to feel stiff and weak for a while
• Do the exercises your doctor showed you, gradually
• If the skin is dry and flaky, wash it gently and use a moisturiser