Soft casting for wound healing (1048)
Key points below
What is a soft cast?
- The soft cast is made with cotton padding, plaster to make the cast firm, and soft cast wrap that can be removed without a special cast cutter.
- It is used to protect a wound while it heals.
- It holds your child’s hand, arm or leg in a good position for healing.
How do I take care of the cast at home?
- Keep the cast dry. It is very important it does not get wet.
o Take sponge baths. Baths or showers may get the cast wet.
o Stay away from water sources, including pet bowls. - Keep the cast as clean as possible. Put a sock over the cast during messy times like eating.
When might I need to take the cast off at home?
Keep the cast on until your next clinic visit, except for these reasons:
- The cast gets wet under the colorful outer layer: This can be bad for the skin.
- The cast slips down or off: This may change the hand, arm or leg position and can impact healing.
- Your child seems to be in more pain: The cast may need to be removed to see how the wound is healing.
Before removing the cast at home, call or message the burn clinic to let us know about the cast issue.
How do I remove the cast?
- Carefully cut through the colorful outer layer with clean scissors.
- Find the white cast material tab and unravel it.
- Remove the bandages and plaster.
- Soak the wound in clean, soapy water to help remove any areas of gauze that are stuck to the wound.
- Cover the wound with items given to you at your clinic visit. This may be an ointment on Vaseline™ gauze that is applied to the wound and held in place with rolled gauze.
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