Introduction
Everyone has seen it before and many have worn it themselves – a plaster cast. The bandage, made of hard plaster, is a means of conservative treatment of damage to anatomical structures. These include not only the bones, with which most people put a cast, but also the joints, ligaments and tendons.
The plaster bandage is intended to keep the injured structures still, thus preventing the aggravation of the damage and enabling fast and safe healing. Plaster can be used for conservative therapy in various injuries and disease processes. It plays an important role especially in traumatic (accident-related) injuries such as uncomplicated bone fractures, contusions, strains and tears in ligaments or tendons.
Complicated bone fractures in which the fracture site is displaced or bone splinters are present in the surrounding tissue should not only be treated with a plaster cast, but also operated on. After operations, a plaster cast can be applied for improved immobilization. A plaster cast can also help to heal non-traumatic changes such as inflammatory processes in bones or joints, scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and malpositions in newborns or children (clubfoot, Perthes disease).
Plaster molds
The immobilization of the extremities (arms and hands, legs and feet) can be done individually in different positions and certain degrees of firmness: A round cast covers the entire circumference of the limb. It is a closed plaster cast that does not allow for great expansion. A split plaster is initially applied like a round plaster.
After a phase of hardening, the plaster cast is sawn open lengthwise, leaving a gap of about 1 cm in the plaster. Elastic bandages are wrapped around the plaster to strengthen it. If the extremity now swells, the tissue has room to expand.
In the case of a plaster shell, about half of the injured limb is covered, in the case of a plaster splint less than half. The shell or splint is usually only intended to prevent a certain movement and ensure immobilization in one plane. A so-called plaster tutor completely envelops a limb.
For example, the patient’s leg is plastered from the lower leg to the thigh, including the knee joint. If the spine is to be straightened or immobilized, the back shell or a plaster corset can be used. The former covers only half of the torso, while a plaster corset, like a conventional corset, covers the entire torso from the pelvis to the thorax.
