Can you put weight on a fiberglass cast?
General care. Follow your doctor’s instructions for when you can start using the limb that has the cast. Fibreglass casts dry quickly and are soon hard enough to protect the injured arm or leg. When it’s okay to put weight on your leg or foot cast, don’t stand or walk on it unless it’s designed for walking.
When can you walk on a fiberglass cast?
Dartmouth-Hitchcock warns patients that they should never walk on a cast until it is completely dry. For a fiberglass cast, patients can expect to wait about an hour. For a plaster cast, patients should wait about three days before walking on it at all.
How strong are fiberglass casts?
A fiberglass cast weighs only a few ounces and several layers of the fiberglass can be used to create a walking cast that is strong enough to support a person’s weight within about 20 minutes of its application. As an example, a fiberglass short leg cast, sometimes called a boot cast, weighs about a pound.
How long does it take for a fiberglass cast to set?
Fiberglass dries in 15 to 30 minutes, but plaster can take longer. If you are walking on the cast or splint, the drying time will be longer. On average, plaster will take about a day and a half before it’s hard enough to support your weight, but fiberglass will take about 20 to 30 minutes.
Can you shower with a fiberglass cast?
A new waterproof cast lining was developed in the 1990s for both plaster and fiberglass casts. This new lining combined with a fiberglass cast means a completely waterproof cast. That makes it possible for you to bathe, shower, and swim while wearing a cast.
Can you break a fiberglass cast?
Removal. Don’t attempt to remove the cast yourself. Your doctor will do it, typically using an oscillating saw that breaks apart the rigid fiberglass (or plaster).
Can you shower with fiberglass cast?
Is fiberglass cast comfortable?
They’re more porous than plaster casts, which allows your doctor to take X-rays of the injured area without removing the cast. This also means that fiberglass casts are more breathable, making them much more comfortable to wear. This makes the skin underneath the cast less vulnerable to irritation.
What is a fiberglass cast?
Fiberglass cast. Also called a synthetic cast, it’s made of fiberglass, which is a type of plastic that can be shaped. It’s lighter and more durable and expensive than plaster casts. X-rays also “see” through it better. Fiberglass is water-resistant.
How is a fiberglass cast applied?
Fiberglass casts are applied in a similar manner to plaster casts. A stockinette is placed on the injured area, then wrapped in soft cotton padding. The fiberglass is then soaked in water and wrapped around the area in several layers. Fiberglass casts dry within a few hours.
How does your arm look after a cast?
What to expect: When the cast is removed, it is not unusual to experience some pain, swelling and stiffness of the joint for a few days and notice atrophy of the arm muscles for a few weeks. There will also be dry scaly skin around the arm. Do not rub it; it will gradually fall off.
Why does your arm get hairy in a cast?
The skin under the plaster cast is subjected to tiny amounts of friction as the cast moves. The friction is not enough to rub away hair, but it is enough to stimulate the hair follicles in the skin to produce new hairs. As the skin is subjected to its normal wear and tear, the excessive hair will gradually disappear.
How long will I be in a non-weight bearing cast?
The doctor told me that after the surgery I would be in a non-weightbearing splint for 2 weeks, the a non-weightbearing cast for 3 weeks, then move to a boot but still be non-weightbearing for another 2 weeks then move to partial weightbearing and then finally full. As I mentioned the surgery was pretty quick and went well.
What is a non-weight bearing injury?
Non-weight bearing: the affected leg, ankle, or foot cannot withstand any weight whatsoever and attempting to do so would cause further harm or prolong your recovery. Partial weight-bearing: the injury can tolerate a small amount of weight. This can be a transitional period from non-weight-bearing to full weight-bearing.
What is the difference between non-weight bearing and partial weight bearing?
This can be a transitional period from non-weight-bearing to full weight-bearing. Partial weight-bearing can mean that you can bear 100% of your weight for a limited amount of timer per day, or it can mean that you can apply a certain percentage of your weight to the injury, but not all of it.
Do lower leg injuries require non-weight bearing care?
Lower leg injuries are common and unfortunately many of them need a period of non-weight bearing to give your body a chance to recover and heal. If you’re facing weeks of being off your feet it’s natural to be feeling apprehensive about how you’ll cope.