What to expect after the spica cast comes off

A plaster cast usually prevents a fracture from moving but allows your fingers to move. The cast is not removed until it is determined by an x-ray that the bone is fully healed.

After the support the cast used to provide is gone people often notice a limb feels stiff or sore or is swollen.

What to expect after the spica cast comes off. Most children cope very well with the spica and feel quite secure. As the spica maintains their position very well pain is often well controlled during the time they have it on. Your consultant will have determined the appropriate time for the cast to come off based on the surgery and the x-rays.

The cast is normally removed with the use of a plaster saw. The procedure is noisy. Support your limb as it continues to heal.

After the support the cast used to provide is gone people often notice a limb feels stiff or sore or is swollen. Move gradually back into using it. Start with small easy movements and work your way up to using the limb fully.

No-one really tells you what to expect after the spica cast comes off there is often no normal with walking after spica cast. Some children walk quickly whilst others take their time. It also depends on how long the child was in spica cast and of course their age.

Hi buzd and alisonthanks for your comments it does help hearing off those that have been thruogh it the cast coming off doesnt sound too bad ill pick her naked like you did - cuddles will be a lot nicer ill moisturise her legs and give her a bath dailyAlison sounds like youve been through alot with Heidi mae and 8 months is a long time thats reassuring that after so long in a cast the legs adjust themselves after. After the cast is removed it is normal for there to be some discomfort in the bones and joints that were immobilized for the arm or leg to be smaller than the other side and for the skin to have some changes dry skin and more hair. A few baths in warm water will soak off the dry flaky skin.

Keeping the hip spica cast clean and dry. It is important to keep the hip spica cast clean and dry to prevent it from getting soft and weak. It may be unable to hold your childs hips or legs steady if it breaks or goes out of shape.

If this happens your childs hips or legs may not heal very well. Sophie had a full spica to the ankles for 6 weeks then half spica to the knees for 6 weeks after spica was removed she wore a brace day and night for 16 weeks then night only for 6 weeks. I think every consultant and hospital does it different.

Cast changes are a lot easier than the first but we only had one and then removal. No he meant our son who 8 weeks earlier was in a spica cast. I told him the 8 weeks with the cast off following the 8 12 weeks that he had it on just flew by.

Its not something that comes up in a regular conversation any more. Im happy to say that most days its just a topic of something that happened in his past. After a spica cast change your child will be discharged home from the hospital on the same day will not be admitted overnight.

Handling the cast may be a bit awkward at first but you and your infantchild will quickly become accustomed to it. The relief you feel after a cast is removed from your leg or foot can be quickly replaced by a feeling of unease about walking again. It is normal to experience pain stiffness and swelling of the immobilized joint that can persist for some days after cast removal not to mention skin scaling.

Ref 1 cast removal. After the cast is removed the area will be stiff and tender due to being immobilized. The surrounding muscles will have atrophied due to inactivity and are weak and can become easily tired.

The cast is not removed until it is determined by an x-ray that the bone is fully healed. A plaster cast usually prevents a fracture from moving but allows your fingers to move. The cast also reduces pain.

What to expect. It usually takes four to six weeks for new bone to form to heal your fracture. When the cast is removed most people find that their wrist is stiff weak and uncomfortable to start with.

My 5 year old girl broke her leg last year. She was a trooper through it all. When the cast came off after 6 weeks the doc told me she may limp for a short time as she gets re-acquainted.

They are typically scared to put pressure on it for fear it may break again. She actually limped for. Cast removal what to expect The hip spica cast may be taken off in An x-ray is usually taken to ensure outpatients without an anaesthetic that the hip joint is developing or in theatre under a general satisfactorily and you may also have anaesthetic but you will need to an appointment with your consultant check with your hospital to find.

CAST CLEANLINESS MAINTENANCE. Keeping the cast clean is IMPOSSIBLE. Just try keep the edges as neat and padded as you can.

Also try keep it as dry as you can as this helps prevent chafing. Kade had a REALLY runny tummy. 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 leg muscles calf and quadriceps for a few weeks.

There will also be dry scaly skin around the leg. Do not rub it. It will gradually fall off.

A spica cast is left on until the bone is healed in about 8 to 12 weeks. The child may not be able to walk while the cast is in place. After the cast comes off the child may need to use crutches for 3 to 4 weeks while the leg regains strength if he or she is old enough around age 6.

Younger children may need to ride in a stroller or wagon or be carried until they are stronger. And what to expect from bone stumula. Swelling pain and bruising after the cast comes off is normal.

Keep it elevated as much as possible and iced too. It is used after a fractured femur thighbone after hip or pelvis surgery or after tendon surgery around the hip. A spica cast covers the child from the armpits around the chest all the way to the ankle of one or both legs.

If the cast only goes to one ankle the other leg is in the cast to just above the knee. What Will the Area Look Like After the Cast Is Off. When the cast is off you may notice.

The skin that was under the cast looks pale dry or flaky. The hair looks darker. The muscles looks smaller.

The area is very smelly. All of this is normal and goes away within a few weeks. Do I Need to Do Anything Special After the Cast Is Off.

To help things go back to normal. Wash the skin with soap and water when you get home from getting the cast off. What happens after Spica cast removal.

After the cast is removed it is normal for there to be some discomfort in the bones and joints that were immobilized for the arm or leg to be smaller than the other side and for the skin to have some changes dry skin and more hair. Spica cast - what to expect. The big day - the cast comes off Again I cant thank other parents enough for their wisdom.

We were told BEFORE we went to the hospital to give JT some Motrin because it would be very painful when he got his cast off because of the stiffness and soreness. Post a free question. HealthTap doctors are based in the US board certified and available by text or video.

Video chat with a US. Board-certified doctor 247 in less than one minute for common issues such as. Colds and coughs stomach symptoms bladder infections rashes and more.

When the cast came off he couldnt walk for a little while he missed the support of the cast and obviously all his muscles had weakened while in the cast. It took him about 2 weeks at most to start walking again properly sorry cant remember the exact length of time.