Cast immobilization

Proximal forearm fractures require a long arm cast to control forearm rotation and therefore decrease the risk of displacement.

If a complete cast is applied in the acute phase after injury, it is safer to split the cast down to skin over its full length.

Simple application of a plaster of Paris (POP) or fiberglass cast is performed without sedation in older children and in compliant younger children.

The environment should be one in which the child and the parents/carers are comfortable.

Important considerations include:

• A child-sensitive approach
• A child-friendly clinical area
• Careful explanation of the procedure, in language that is understood by the child and the parents/carers
• Availability of all equipment and material

When a procedure including manipulation is required, general anesthesia or conscious sedation is usually necessary.

• Examination couch
• Tubular bandage (40-80 mm wide, depending on the size of the child)
• 2-4 rolls of padding (40-150 mm wide, depending on the size of the child)
• 2-8 plaster of Paris (POP) or synthetic fiberglass bandages (40-150 mm wide, depending on the size of the child)
• Malleable (thermoplastic, leather, or lead) strip
• Bucket with cold water
• Protective aprons for the team members and the child
• Appropriate equipment to cut, split, or remove the cast

This procedure is normally performed with the patient in a supine position.

Pearl: Holding the arm using finger traps as illustrated allows easy manipulation, reduction, imaging, and mobilization for a surgeon working without an assistant.

To avoid damage to the skin of the fingers ensure that the pressure is evenly distributed, and that prolonged or excessive force is avoided.

Flex the elbow to 90° prior to application of the tubular bandage and padding, to avoid compression at the antecubital fossa.

Place the forearm in neutral rotation for undisplaced, stable fractures.

A temporary malleable (thermoplastic, leather or lead) strip can be placed beneath the tubular bandage, prior to plaster application, to protect the skin when plaster splitting is required.

The location of the strip should be planned to avoid areas of molding.

Apply a tubular bandage, directly onto the skin and malleable strip, from the axillary crease to just distal to the MCP joints allowing sufficient bandage for protection of the cast edges.

Cut a hole for the thumb.

Apply a single layer of padding from the MCP joints of the fingers and thumb to the axillary crease.

Overlap each layer by 1/2.

Apply extra padding over pressure areas, including the olecranon.

Take care not to constrict the antecubital fossa.

The tubular bandage and padding should be applied without creases.

Consistent firm but not tight wrapping should result in a neat stable layer of padding that does not constrict the arm.

Immerse the POP/fiberglass bandage for 5-10 seconds and then remove excess water by gentle squeezing.

Apply a first layer of circumferential POP/fiberglass.

The plaster extends distally exposing the metacarpal heads and palmar flexor crease and proximally to just distal to the axillary crease.

Trim excess plaster to accommodate the thumb and fingers.

Apply a slab the width of the forearm over the ulnar aspect and the posterior humerus.

Fold the proximal and distal ends of the tubular bandage over the cast and cover the cast with an additional single layer of POP/fiberglass bandage.

Ensure that the edges of the cast are well-padded and smooth, to avoid abrasion during the period of plaster immobilization.

For an undisplaced fracture the cast should be molded to an oval cross-section to match the shape of the forearm.

The assistant should support the limb until the cast is hardened.

The ability to fully extend the fingers passively, or actively, without discomfort indicates absence of muscle compartment ischemia.

Care should be taken to ensure that the plaster cast does not restrict flexion of the MCP joints.

The arm is supported in an arm sling around the shoulder.

When required, the plaster should be split along the entire length.

Once the cast is hardened, mark it, then split using an oscillating saw, a hand saw, or a sharp plaster knife (1).

Take great care to avoid injury to the underlying skin.

Widen the split with a cast spreader. Then divide the underlying padding with scissors (2) and remove the protective strip to expose the skin.

Apply a crêpe bandage to protect the split cast.

When the swelling has subsided (after 5-7 days), complete the cast with a single POP bandage.

Metaphyseal and epiphyseal fractures of the proximal radius and ulna usually require 2-4 weeks of immobilization for adequate healing.

Ibuprofen and paracetamol should be administered regularly during the first 24-48 hours after surgery, with opiate analgesia for breakthrough pain.

Opiates should not be necessary after 48 hours and regular ibuprofen and paracetamol should be sufficient until 4-5 after injury or surgery.

The child should be examined if the level of pain is increasing or prolonged analgesia is needed.

The child should be examined after casting, to ensure finger range of motion is comfortable and adequate.

Neurological and vascular examination should also be performed.

Compartment syndrome should be considered in the presence of increasing pain, especially pain on passive stretching of muscles, decreasing range of active finger motion or deteriorating neurovascular signs, which is a late phenomenon.

Compartment syndrome is a possible early postoperative complication that may be difficult to diagnose in younger children.

The presence of full passive or active finger extension, without discomfort, excludes muscle compartment ischemia.

If there are signs of a compartment syndrome in a child in a cast or splint:

1. Remove or split constrictive dressings or casts.
2. Elevate the limb.
3. Encourage active finger movement.
4. Reexamine the child after 30 min.

If a definitive diagnosis of compartment syndrome is made, then a fasciotomy should be performed without delay.

When the child is discharged from the hospital, the parent/carer should be taught how to assess the limb.

They should also be advised to return if there is increased pain or decreased range of finger movement.

It is important to provide parents with the following additional information:

• The warning signs of compartment syndrome, circulatory problems and neurological deterioration
• Hospital telephone number
• Information brochure

AP and lateral x-rays may be taken to assess fracture position at intervals decided by the fracture configuration and age of patient.

Loss of reduction can be treated by conversion to internal fixation.

See also the additional material on complications.

Fractures treated by immobilization should have the cast or splint removed 2-4 weeks after the injury.

Clinical assessment and x-rays without cast are used to judge adequate healing.

As symptoms recover, the child should be encouraged to remove the sling and begin active movements of the elbow and forearm rotation. See also the additional material on elbow stiffness.

The majority of motion is recovered rapidly and within two months of cast or splint removal.

The older child may take a little longer.

Once the child is comfortable, with a nearly complete range of motion, (s)he may incrementally resume noncontact sports.

Resumption of unrestricted physical activity is a matter for judgment by the treating surgeon.