How to Make a Plaster Cast of an Arm
Realize that you'll have to remove the cast., Open a tube of medical stockinette., Cut the ends of the stockinette with scissors., Affix the cast padding., Soak the plaster rolls., Apply the first roll of plaster casting., Apply the second roll of...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Realize that you'll have to remove the cast.
If you are making your own plaster cast, you'll have to be able to remove the cast yourself.
Removing a plaster cast requires having access to either plaster shears or an electric cutter.
It's highly dangerous to do this process yourself, so have a friend ready to help you.Plaster shears are safer than electric cutters.
Plaster shears are available at medical supply companies.
Never use another tool, such as an electric carving knife, to remove a plaster cast from a human arm. -
Step 2: Open a tube of medical stockinette.
The stockinette will be placed between the skin and the cast to protect the arm.
The stockinette should be 2 inches (5 cm) wide.Unroll the stockinette the length of your forearm.
Placing both your arm and the stockinette roll on a table is the easiest way to do this. , The strip should begin 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the elbow and end 1 inch (2.5 cm) past the knuckles of your hand.Cut 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) into the stockinette for your thumb.
Make the cut at a 45-degree angle for best results.
When you're finished, slide your arm into the stockinette, and your thumb through the 1/2-inch (1.3-cm) hole.
You can wear this while you work on the remainder of the cast. , Begin unrolling the 3-inch (7.6-cm) cast padding at your wrist.
Wrap your wrist one time with the padding.
As you wrap your wrist, hold the beginning end of the padding in place so it doesn't move, twist or slide.Wrap the padding around the hand two times.
Do not wrap the fingers.
Cut the padding to go over the thumb if the padding bunches.
Wrap the padding around the wrist, moving up the arm towards the elbow with each rotation of the wrap.
Ensure that each new pass around the arm overlaps approximately 30% of the pass made before it.
Keep the padding smooth as you wrap the arm.
Stop wrapping below the elbow.
The wrap should end below the elbow with a space about as wide as two horizontal fingers between the wrap and the elbow.
Wrap the padding back down the arm.
Stop at the wrist.
Cut off the remainder of the padding with scissors. , Place 2 rolls of 3-inch (7.6-cm) plaster casting and a roll of 4-inch (10.2-cm) plaster casting into a basin filled with warm water.
The edges of the rolls should face upwards.
Soak the plaster right before you apply it to the arm, so that the plaster will not dry out.Remove the plaster when it has softened all the way through.
Wring out the plaster gently. , With your free hand, wrap the plaster casting around your forearm.
Place the end of the 3-inch (7.6-cm) plaster approximately 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) below the top of the padding on the hand.
Wrap the plaster around the hand twice.Continue to wrap the arm, moving down towards the elbow.
Do not pull on the plaster.
Flatten the applied plaster with your hand as you wrap.
Ensure that each new pass of the plaster overlaps the one before it.
Stop wrapping the plaster 1 inch (3 cm) before the edge of the padding near the elbow. , Continue to wrap your arm in the same manner, pressing each layer of plaster close to the one below so that it creates a solid, unified substance.
Place the end of the 4-inch (10.2-cm) plaster casting near the elbow, where the 3-inch (7.6-cm) plaster casting ends.
Wrap the casting around the arm, moving towards the hand.
Do not pull on the plaster.
Gently press the applied plaster with your hand to smooth it.Stop wrapping underneath the thumb.
Fold the leftover padding down over the cast, and wrap the last part of the plaster over the padding to secure the padding. , You can speed up the drying process somewhat by holding it to a hand dryer, but for best results wait a full day before considering it finished.Don't allow your cast to get wet.
Take baths, rather than showers, while wearing your plaster cast.
Make sure your cast is covered when you're outside in the rain. , Snip the stockinette so that the shears can be placed in between the plaster and the padding.
Try to cut straight down along the length of the cast.
As your friend cuts, the shears should be removed and cleaned every 4-6 cuts.This step should be planned prior to creating your plaster cast.
If you've neglected to plan for this step, you should make an appointment at your local medical office and ask them to help you. -
Step 3: Cut the ends of the stockinette with scissors.
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Step 4: Affix the cast padding.
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Step 5: Soak the plaster rolls.
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Step 6: Apply the first roll of plaster casting.
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Step 7: Apply the second roll of plaster casting.
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Step 8: Allow 24 hours for the cast to dry completely.
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Step 9: Ask a friend to help cut off the cast.
Detailed Guide
If you are making your own plaster cast, you'll have to be able to remove the cast yourself.
Removing a plaster cast requires having access to either plaster shears or an electric cutter.
It's highly dangerous to do this process yourself, so have a friend ready to help you.Plaster shears are safer than electric cutters.
Plaster shears are available at medical supply companies.
Never use another tool, such as an electric carving knife, to remove a plaster cast from a human arm.
The stockinette will be placed between the skin and the cast to protect the arm.
The stockinette should be 2 inches (5 cm) wide.Unroll the stockinette the length of your forearm.
Placing both your arm and the stockinette roll on a table is the easiest way to do this. , The strip should begin 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the elbow and end 1 inch (2.5 cm) past the knuckles of your hand.Cut 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) into the stockinette for your thumb.
Make the cut at a 45-degree angle for best results.
When you're finished, slide your arm into the stockinette, and your thumb through the 1/2-inch (1.3-cm) hole.
You can wear this while you work on the remainder of the cast. , Begin unrolling the 3-inch (7.6-cm) cast padding at your wrist.
Wrap your wrist one time with the padding.
As you wrap your wrist, hold the beginning end of the padding in place so it doesn't move, twist or slide.Wrap the padding around the hand two times.
Do not wrap the fingers.
Cut the padding to go over the thumb if the padding bunches.
Wrap the padding around the wrist, moving up the arm towards the elbow with each rotation of the wrap.
Ensure that each new pass around the arm overlaps approximately 30% of the pass made before it.
Keep the padding smooth as you wrap the arm.
Stop wrapping below the elbow.
The wrap should end below the elbow with a space about as wide as two horizontal fingers between the wrap and the elbow.
Wrap the padding back down the arm.
Stop at the wrist.
Cut off the remainder of the padding with scissors. , Place 2 rolls of 3-inch (7.6-cm) plaster casting and a roll of 4-inch (10.2-cm) plaster casting into a basin filled with warm water.
The edges of the rolls should face upwards.
Soak the plaster right before you apply it to the arm, so that the plaster will not dry out.Remove the plaster when it has softened all the way through.
Wring out the plaster gently. , With your free hand, wrap the plaster casting around your forearm.
Place the end of the 3-inch (7.6-cm) plaster approximately 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) below the top of the padding on the hand.
Wrap the plaster around the hand twice.Continue to wrap the arm, moving down towards the elbow.
Do not pull on the plaster.
Flatten the applied plaster with your hand as you wrap.
Ensure that each new pass of the plaster overlaps the one before it.
Stop wrapping the plaster 1 inch (3 cm) before the edge of the padding near the elbow. , Continue to wrap your arm in the same manner, pressing each layer of plaster close to the one below so that it creates a solid, unified substance.
Place the end of the 4-inch (10.2-cm) plaster casting near the elbow, where the 3-inch (7.6-cm) plaster casting ends.
Wrap the casting around the arm, moving towards the hand.
Do not pull on the plaster.
Gently press the applied plaster with your hand to smooth it.Stop wrapping underneath the thumb.
Fold the leftover padding down over the cast, and wrap the last part of the plaster over the padding to secure the padding. , You can speed up the drying process somewhat by holding it to a hand dryer, but for best results wait a full day before considering it finished.Don't allow your cast to get wet.
Take baths, rather than showers, while wearing your plaster cast.
Make sure your cast is covered when you're outside in the rain. , Snip the stockinette so that the shears can be placed in between the plaster and the padding.
Try to cut straight down along the length of the cast.
As your friend cuts, the shears should be removed and cleaned every 4-6 cuts.This step should be planned prior to creating your plaster cast.
If you've neglected to plan for this step, you should make an appointment at your local medical office and ask them to help you.
About the Author
Douglas Davis
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