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Plaster casts: concerning symptoms to look out
- Increased pain that is not relieved by simple pain medicine such as paracetamol and/or ibuprofen.
- Numbness or tingling in the hand / foot or under the cast.
- Burning or stinging sensation.
- Swelling in the hand / foot below the cast or splint.
- The skin or nail colour below the cast turns blue or purple or, if the fingers / toes go white.
- If your child is unable to move their fingers / toes below the cast or splint.
- If you notice a smell coming from the cast, especially if there’s a wound underneath.
- If the cast becomes soft or cracked.
Your child needs to see a doctor or nurse today: Telephone 111 or your child’s GP for advice,or come back to the Children’s Emergency Department (CED) if that is what you have been advised to do.
Come straight back to the CED if:
• Your child complains of pain in their calf.
• You notice your child’s arm / leg is swollen and warm, red and / or inflamed under the cast or splint.
DO NOT let your child’s plaster get wet.
Arm sling information
We use three types of slings in the CED:
• Triangle Sling (AKA broad arm sling) helps support the arm.
• High arm sling: helps reduce swelling.
• Collar & cuff: for specific injuries.
Slings should be worn in the daytime and removed at bedtime unless advised differently by the doctor or nurse practitioner.
Detailed instructions on how to tie your sling can be found can be found on the Brighton Virtual Fracture Clinic website.
Our aim is to provide information that will help you understand your child’s injury and enable the appropriate after-care.
There are lots of useful injury leaflets to download at the Royal Alexandra website
Useful numbers
NHS 24hr advice line
111
Practice Plus (Brighton walk-in Centre)
0333 321 0946
Practice Plus GP
0300 130 3333
7 days a week
8:00 am to 8:00 pm
The information in this leaflet is for guidance purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner.