Cast and Splint Care

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  • Like broken skin or wound, broken bones need proper time and alignment to heal. Casts and splints limit movement or immobilize the injured limb so that the bones may regenerate and repair themselves.
  • After a cast is on, you can’t remove it yourself. Your doctor will take it off.
  • Follow your doctor’s instructions for when you can first put weight on the cast. When it’s okay to put weight on your cast, do not stand or walk on it unless it is designed for walking.
  • Keep the injured limb elevated, ideally above the level of the heart, to promote circulation and relieve pain and swelling.
  • Keep the cast clean and dry.
  • Avoid eating rich or spicy food. Do not binge or overeat.
  • Practice static muscle contractions on the injured limb or small movements in the fingers and toes daily, each lasting 15 to 20 minutes and at least three times a day.
  • Also practice elevating the entire injured limb everyday. These exercises may be done on the bed or sitting on the chair.
  • Avoid hitting the cast/splint with hard materials to prevent deformation or breaking of the cast/splint.
  • Practice good hygiene and continue to clean on the hands, fingers, feet, and toes as normal as possible. Massage the limb to increase circulation from prolonged immobilization.
  • Try blowing cool air from a hair dryer or fan into the cast to help relieve itching. Never stick items under your cast to scratch the skin.
  • Don’t use oils or lotions near your cast. If the skin gets red or irritated around the edge of the cast, you may pad the edges with a soft material or use tape to cover the edges.
  • Walking aids and supports are available for rental at our rehabilitation aids center on the first floor of the 3rd medical building. Or call 2812811-53745 during business hours for more information.
  • Return to the hospital if there are the following conditions：
    1. Pain, numbness, inability to move the fingers or toes, or find the fingers or toes turning cold and purple on the limb with the cast/splint.
    2. Increasing pain or severe swelling near the cast
    3. Cast/splint broke
    4. Cast/splint feels too tight or too loose
    5. Severe discomfort of the skin underneath the cast/splint
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