What does a soft cast do?

A soft cast is usually made from flexible fiberglass material that is molded to the patient’s injury. They can be used by athletes after the healing of an injury for extra support and a lower risk of recurrent injury. A soft cast is mostly for partially healed wrist fractures or for any other small fractures.

Whats the difference between a hard and soft cast?

What are casts made of? 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 better splint or cast?

Splints, also known as half-casts, provide less support than casts, but are faster and easier to use. They also can be tightened or loosened easily if the swelling in the arm or leg increases or decreases.

What happens if you leave a cast on too long?

While it may not seem like too much of an issue, putting a cast on a patient too tight can actually cause permanent damage. This is because a cast that is too tight will restrict blood flow to the limb, will put excessive pressure on the nerves, and may even cause atrophy of the muscles or tendons in the limb.

What can you do if you have an itch inside your cast?

A cast can cause your child’s underlying skin to feel itchy. To relieve itchy skin, turn a hair dryer on a cool setting and aim it under the cast. Don’t allow your child to stick objects, such as a coat hanger, inside the cast to scratch his or her skin. This could cause an injury or infection.

Is there an alternative to a cast?

What Are Alternatives to Casts? More and more, we’re seeing removable splints and walking boots as an alternative to casts–or used before or after a cast is put in place. While these options aren’t a solution for all fractures, they work well for some patients and injuries.

Why did I get a splint instead of a cast?

Splints – also known as “half-casts” – provide less support than casts, but are easier to use and can be adjusted. They also can be tightened or loosened easily if the swelling in the arm or leg increases or decreases.

What makes a soft cast splint more comfortable?

The casting material does not set as rigidly as normal fibreglass casting and can therefore allow movemnet or give. The more layers of the material used the more rigid it wil become. Because soft cast is not as rigid, as say scothcast or thermosplastics, it tends to be more comfortable to wear.

What are the different types of splints and casts?

Types of Splints and Casts Casts are custom-made. They must fit the shape of your injured limb correctly to provide the best support. Casts can be made of plaster or fiberglass — a plastic that can be shaped. Photos show a long-arm cast made of fiberglass with cotton lining.

What does a soft splint do for an injury?

The splint is secured around the area of injury and held in place with tape or ties. Even the soft splint will provide the patient some support for the injured extremity and comfort.

Can a soft cast be used for an ankle injury?

iheart cast image by askthegeek from Fotolia.com. A soft cast is a different kind of cast than the traditional plaster cast. Soft casts are made from fiberglass and offer more flexibility than traditional casts. Soft casts are often used for ankle injuries because the theory of “walking it off” is beneficial for most ankle injuries.

How do you care for a splint?

• Clean the splint with soap and lukewarm water and scrub it with a small brush.
• and then let the splint air dry.
• Use rubbing alcohol to wipe down the inside of hard plastic splints to reduce odor.
• keep it away from heat or flames.

  What is a soft wrist cast?

  Soft Casts. A soft cast is usually made from flexible fiberglass material that is molded to the patient’s injury. They can be used by athletes after the healing of an injury for extra support and a lower risk of recurrent injury. A soft cast is mostly for partially healed wrist fractures or for any other small fractures.

  What is a short leg splint?

  Short Leg Splint. Indications: Used for temporary splint age of fractures during patient’s transportation. Ideal as first aid splinting tool. Special features : Malleable for different shapes required for immobilization or to support different parts of the body. padded for patient’s comfort.

  What is a splint arm?

  An arm splint refers to any device that keeps the arm in a desired position. They can be used for many different reasons, but most typically, they keep a bone in the right place for proper healing.