What Is Cast?: Plaster Casts

1. What is cast?
A fluid dressing that circumferentially encircles and extremity.

Indications:
a. Immobilization
b. Prevent and correct deformity
c. For support
d. For elevation
e. Serve as a model in making an artificial limb
2. What are the 2 types of cast?
Plaster casts
 often less expensive

 easier to mold for some applications
Fiberglass casts
 lighter
 more durable
 more water resistant
 more easily penetrated by X-rays
 available in a variety of colors and patterns
3. What are the main groups of casts? Give examples and describe it.
4. Type of
Location Uses
cast
Applied below the Forearm or wrist fractures. Also used to hold the forearm or
Short arm cast
elbow to the hand. wrist muscles and tendons in place after surgery.
Applied from the upper Upper arm, elbow, or forearm fractures. Also used to hold the
Long arm cast
arm to the hand. arm or elbow muscles and tendons in place after surgery.
Arm cylinder Applied from the upper To hold the elbow muscles and tendons in place after a
cast arm to the wrist. dislocation or surgery.
Type of cast Location Uses

Applied around the trunk of Shoulder dislocations or after surgery on the shoulder area.
Shoulder
the body to the shoulder,
spica cast
arm, and hand.
Minerva Applied around the neck and After surgery on the neck or upper back area.
cast trunk of the body.
Applied to the area below the Lower leg fractures, severe ankle sprains and strains, or
Short leg
knee to the foot. fractures. Also used to hold the leg or foot muscles and
cast
tendons in place after surgery to allow healing.
Leg cylinder Applied from the upper thigh Knee, or lower leg fractures, knee dislocations, or after
cast to the ankle. surgery on the leg or knee area.
Applied from the chest to the foot on one leg. Thigh fractures. Also used to hold the
Unilateral hip
hip or thigh muscles and tendons in
spica cast
place after surgery to allow healing.
Applied from the chest to the foot on one leg to Thigh fracture. Also used to hold the
One and one-
the knee of the other leg. A bar is placed hip or thigh muscles and tendons in
half hip spica
between both legs to keep the hips and legs place after surgery to allow healing.
cast
immobilized.
Applied from the chest to the feet. A bar is Pelvis, hip, or thigh fractures. Also
Bilateral long
placed between both legs to keep the hips and used to hold the hip or thigh muscles
leg hip spica
legs immobilized. and tendons in place after surgery to
cast
allow healing.
Short leg hip Applied from the chest to the To hold the hip muscles and tendons in place after
spica cast thighs or knees. surgery to allow healing.

Applied from the upper thighs to the feet. A bar is To hold the hip muscles and
Abduction
placed between both legs to keep the hips and legs tendons in place after surgery to
boot cast
immobilized. allow healing.
4. What is traction? And give examples

An act of pulling and drawing associated with counter traction.
The weight of the patient serves as counter traction.
Indications:
a. For immobilization of the affected part
b. Prevent and correct deformity
c. To support the affected joint
d. To reduce muscle pain and spasm
e. To reduce fracture
f. To maintain proper body alignment of the affected part
Examples:
MANUAL TRACTION
- Traction applied to the body by the hands of operator.
SKELETAL TRACTION
- Traction applied to the bones with the use of pins, wires, tongs.
Ex:
o K-wires/Kirschners wires, Steinmann pins.
o Crutchfield tong – applied at the parietal region of the skull.
o Vinkerskull caliper – applied at the temporal region of the skull.
o Halo traction/ Halo vest – used when ambulating.
SKIN TRACTION
- Traction applied directly or indirectly to the skin.
- 2 types:
o Skin adhesive traction – traction applied with the use of adhesive tape, tensoplast,
foam, elastic bandage, spreader.
o Skin non-adhesive traction – traction applied with the use off materials such as
canvass, laces, buckles, leathers, and bells.
5. What is the principles of effective traction?
 The grip or hold on the patient’s body must be adequate and secure.
 Provision for counter traction must be made.
 There must be minimal friction on the cords and pulleys.
 The line and magnitude of the pull, once correctly established, must be maintained.
 • There must be frequent checks of the apparatus and of the patient to ensure that: o the
traction set-up is functioning as planned. o the patient is not suffering any injury because of
the traction treatment. The grip or hold on the body is achieved:
• manually
• via the skin
• via the bone.
Poorly applied traction can cause considerable discomfort to the patient, and may retard
rehabilitation. It is important, therefore, that staff responsible for setting up and maintaining
traction are thoroughly familiar with the principles of traction, so that the mechanics of each
type of traction set-up are well understood.

What Is Cast?: Plaster Casts

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1. What is cast?

A fluid dressing that circumferentially encircles and extremity.

2. What are the 2 types of cast?

 often less expensive

Type of cast Location Uses

Type of cast Location Uses

Type of cast Location Uses

4. What is traction? And give examples

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