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Doctors use fiberglass or plaster wrap (or sometimes both) to make your child's cast.
It will harden before you leave the Emergency Department (ED) or the orthopaedic office. Please note: the ED at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh does not do waterproof casting.
Your child's cast may take up to 2 days to dry all the way.
The cast helps keep your child's injured arm or leg properly aligned and protects the bone while it heals.
While a cast will help with pain related to the injury, it won't take it away completely.
The doctors in the ED may give your child medicine to help with pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and other anti-inflammatory drugs are usually the most effective.
You will not be able to remove the cast yourself. Attempting to do so may cause serious injury.
The doctor will go over cast care details with you.
But based on questions parents most often ask, here are a few tips:
Broken bones can swell, which can create pressure under a child's cast. The doctor may split the cast if there's concern about swelling.
Casts may feel as if they're too tight immediately after the doctor applies it. Please elevate the limb and wait for a few hours to observe if the fingers or toes swell.
A cast that's too tight may cause:
These are all reasons to call the doctor. See below for other reasons to call your doctor.
Standard casts are not waterproof. This means you need to keep it clean and dry. Never put the cast under water.
When your child showers:
Commercial cast covers can help with splatter from a shower. But, they won't keep casts dry in a bathtub or swimming pool, despite what the manufacturer may claim. Call your doctor if the cast gets dripping wet or soaked.
If your child did receive a waterproof cast, learn more about waterproof cast care.
Doctors often cover the edges of the cast with a soft fabric wrap. Sometimes this fabric gets worn or torn.
You can add moleskin to keep the cast edges smooth. You can find it at most drug stores and online.
Check the skin around the cast once in the morning and once at night.
Make sure to:
The skin under the cast can get itchy. Never put anything down into the cast to scratch.
Instead:
Seek health care right away if your child has:
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
With MyCHP, you can request appointments, review test results, and more.
For questions about a hospital bill call:
To pay your bill online, please visit UPMC's online bill payment system.
Interested in giving to Children's Hospital? Support the hospital by making a donation online, joining our Heroes in Healing monthly donor program, or visiting our site to learn about the other ways you can give back.