MANAGING A PATIENT IN CAST

CAST
IT IS A RIGID DEVICE APPLIED TO IMMOBILIZE THE INJURED BONES AND PROMOTE HEALING. IT IS APPLIED TO IMMOBILIZE THE JOINT ABOVE AND BELOW THE FRACTURED BONE SO THAT THE BONE WILL NOT MOVE DURING HEALING. THESE ARE APPLIED ON CLIENTS WHO HAVE RELATIVELY STABLE FRACTURES.

TYPES OF CASTS
SHORT-ARM CAST LONG-ARM CAST SHORT-LEG CAST LONG-LEG CAST WALKING CAST BODY CAST SHOULDER SPICA CAST HIP SPICA CAST DOUBLE HIP SPICA CAST

CASTING MATERIALS
PLASTER NONPLASTER

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 1. SUPPORT EXTREMITY OR BODY PART TO BE CASTED. RATIONALE IT MINIMIZES MOVEMENT; MAINTAINS REDUCTION AND ALIGNMENT; INCREASES COMFORT

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 2. POSITION AND MAINTAIN PART TO BE CASTED IN POSITION INDICATED BY PHYSICIAN DURING CASTING PROCEDURE. RATIONALE FACILITATES CASTING; REDUCES INCIDENCE OF COMPLICATIONS (eg, MALUNION, NONUNION, CONTRACTURE)

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 3. DRAPE PATIENT. RATIONALE AVOIDS UNDUE EXPOSURE; PROTECTS OTHER BODY PARTS FROM CONTACT WITH CASTING MATERIALS.

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 4. WASH AND DRY PART TO BE CASTED. RATIONALE REDUCES INCIDENCE OF SKIN BREAKDOWN

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 5. PLACE KNITTED MATERIAL (eg, stockinette) OVER PART TO BE CASTED.
1. APPLY IN SMOOTH AND NONCONSTRICTIVE MANNER 2. ALLOW ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

RATIONALE PROTECTS THE SKIN FROM CASTING MATERIALS. PROTECTS SKIN FROM PRESSURE FOLDS OVER EDGES OF CAST WHEN FINISHING APPLICATION; CREATES SMOOTH, PADDED EDGE; PROTECTS SKIN FROM ABRASION

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 6. WRAP SOFT, NONWOVEN ROLL PADDING SMOOTHLY AND EVENLY AROUND PART.
1. USE ADDITIONAL PADDING OVER BONY PROMINENCES TO PROTECT SUPERFICIAL NERVES (eg, HEAD OF FIBULA AND OLECRANON PROCESS)

RATIONALE PROTECTS SKIN FROM PRESSURE OF CAST PROTECTS SKIN AT BONY PROMINENCES PROTECTS SUPERFICIAL NERVES

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 7. APPLY PLASTER OR NONPLASTER CASTING MATERIAL EVENLY ON BODY PART
1. 2. CHOOSE APPROPRIATE WIDTH OF BANDAGE USE CONTINOUS MOTION, MAINTAINING CONSTANT CONTACT WITH BODY PART USE ADDITIONAL CASTING MATERIALS (SPLINTS) AT JOINTS AND AT POINTS OF ANTICIPATED CAST STRESS

3.

RATIONALE CREATES SMOOTH, SOLID, WELLCONTOURED CAST FACILITATES SMOOTH APPLICATION CREATES SMOOTH, SOLID, IMMOBILIZING CAST SHAPES CAST PROPERLY FOR ADEQUATE SUPPORT STRENGTHENS CAST

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 8. FINISH CAST
1. SMOOTH EDGES 2. TRIM AND RESHAPE WITH CAST KNIFE AND/OR CUTTER

RATIONALE PROTECTS SKIN FROM ABRASION ALLOWS FULL RANGE OF MOTION OF ADJACENT JOINTS

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 9. REMOVE PARTICLES OF CASTING MATERIALS FROM SKIN RATIONALE PREVENTS PARTICLES FROM LOOSENING AND SLIDING UNDERNEATH CAST

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 10. SUPPORT CAST DURING HARDENING
1. 2. 3. 4. HANDLE HARDENING CAST WITH PALMS OF HANDS SUPPORT CAST ON FIRM, SMOOTH SURFACE DO NOT REST CAST ON HARD SURFACES OR ON SHARP EDGES AVOID PRESSURE ON CAST

RATIONALE CASTING MATERIALS BEGIN TO HARDEN IN MINUTES. MAXIMUM HARDNESS OF NONPLASTER CAST BEGINS IN MINUTES. MAXIMUM HARDNESS OF PLASTER CAST OCCURS WITH DRYING ( 24 TO 72 HOURS, DEPENDING ON ENVIRONMENT AND THICKNESS OF CAST) AVOIDS DENTING OF CAST AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRESSURE AREAS.

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING A CAST

NURSING ACTION 11. PROMOTE DRYING OF CAST. 1. LEAVE CAST UNCOVERED AND EXPOSED TO AIR 2. TURN PATIENT EVERY 2 HOURS SUPPORTING MAJOR JOINTS 3. FANS MAY BE USED TO INCREASE AIR FLOW AND SPEED DRYING. RATIONALE FACILITATES DRYING.

PROCEDURE FOR BIVALVING A CAST

THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE IS FOLLOWED WHEN A CAST IS BIVALVED.

WITH A CAST CUTTER, A LONGITUDINAL CUT IS MADE TO DIVIDE THE CAST IN HALF. THE UNDERPADDING IS CUT WITH SCISSORS. THE CAST IS SPREAD APART WITH CAST SPREADERS TO RELIEVE PRESSURE AND TO INSPECT AND TREAT THE SKIN WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THE REDUCTION AND ALIGNMENT OF THE BONE. AFTER THE PRESSURE IS RELIEVED, THE ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR PARTS OF THE CAST ARE SECURED TOGETHR WITH AN ELASTIC COMPRESSION BANDAGE TO MAINTAIN IMMOBILZATION. TO CONTROL SWELLING AND PROMOTE CIRCULATION, THE EXTREMITY IS ELEVATED ( BUT NO HIGHER THAN THE HEART LEVEL, TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECT OF GRAVITY ON PERFUSION OF THE TISSUES).

CARE OF THE PATIENT WITH A BODY OR SPICA CAST

NURSING ACTION
1.

RATIONALE

PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS OF IMMOBILITY BASED ON THE SYSTEM

CARDIOVASCULAR
COMPLICATION
ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY EMBOLISM INCREASED WORKLOAD ON HEART

NURSING INTERVENTION

EXERCISES PLANTARFLEXION AND DORSIFLEXION FOOT EXERCISES QUADRICEPS AND GLUTEAL SETTING EXERCISES FREQUENT TURNING SLOW MOBILIZATION NO PILLOWS BEHIND THE KNEES ANTIEMBOLISM STOCKINGS

RESPIRATORY
COMPLICATION
DECREASED CHEST EXPANSION ACCUMULATION OF SECRETIONS IN RESPIRATORY TRACT

NURSING INTERVENTION
FREQUENT TURNING ENCOURAGE FREQUENT COUGHING AND DEEP BREATHING

INTEGUMENTARY
COMPLICATION
BREAKDOWN OF SKIN INTEGRITY (ABRASIONS, DECUBITUS ULCER) CAUSED BY FRICTION, PRESSURE, OR SHEARING FORCE

NURSING INTERVENTION
FREQUENT TURNIG AND REPOSITIONING REGULAR INSPECTION OF SKIN FOR SIGNS OF PRESSURE GENTLE MASSAGE OF SKIN, ESPECIALLY OVER BONY PROMINENCES

GASTROINTESTINAL
COMPLICATION
CONSTIPATION

NURSING INTERVENTION
FREQUENT MOVEMENT AND TURNING IN BED INCREASE FLUID INTAKE ADEQUATE DIETARY INTAKE WITH INCREASE IN HIGH-FIBER FOODS USE OF STOOL SOFTENERS AND LAXATIVES AS ORDERED

MUSCULOSKELETAL
COMPLICATION
ATROPHY AND WEAKNESS OF MUSCLES CONTRACTURES DEMINERALIZATION OF BONES (OSTEOPOROSIS)

NURSING INTERVENTION
EXERCISES ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN ADL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE PROPER POSITIONING AND REPOSITIONING OF JOINTS

URINARY
COMPLICATION
INCREASED CALCIUM EXCRETIONFROM BONE DESTRUCTION (CALCULI FORMATION) INCREASED URINE pH (ALKALINE) STASIS OF URINE IN KIDNEY AND BLADDER URINARY INFECTION

NURSING INTERVENTION
INCREASED FLUID INTAKE DECREASE IN CALCIUM INTAKE, ESPECIALLY MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS USE OF ACID-ASH FOODS USE OF COMMODE IF POSSIBLE

NEUROLOGIC
COMPLICATION
SENSORY DEPRIVATION AND ISOLATION

NURSING INTERVENTION
FREQUENT CONTACT BY STAFF ORIENTING MEASURES (CLOCK, CALENDAR) DIVERSIONAL ACITIVITIES (TV, RADIO, HOBBIES) INCLUSION OF CLIENT IN DECISION-MAKING ACTIVITIES

CARDIOVASCULAR
COMPLICATION
ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY EMBOLISM INCREASED WORKLOAD ON THE HEART

NURSING INTERVENTION
ACTIVE OR PASSIVE ROM EXERCISES

THE PATIENT WITH SPLINTS OR BRACES

THE PATIENT WITH AN EXTERNAL FIXATOR

MANAGING THE PATIENT IN TRACTION

TRACTION
IS THE APPLICATIONOF A STRAIGHTENING OR PULLING FORCE TO RETURN OR MAINTAIN THE FRACTURED BONES IN NORMAL ANATOMIC POSITION.

TYPES OF TRACTION
1. STRAIGHT OR RUNNING TRACTION 2. BALANCED SUSPENSION TRACTION

STRAIGHT TRACTION
THE PULLING FORCE IS APPLIED IN A STRAIGHT LINE TO THE INJURED BODY PART RESTING ON THE BED

BUCKS TRACTION
IT IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF STRAIGHT TRACTION. THE LOWER PORTION OF THE INJURED EXTREMITY IS PLACED IN A CRADLE-LIKE SLEEVE. THIS SLEEVE IS HARNESSED TO ITSELF AND A WEIGHT IS HUNG FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACTION FRAME. IT IS A FORM OF SKIN TRACTION.

SKIN TRACTION
ADVANTAGE: THE RELATIVE EASE OF USE AND ABILITY TO MAINTAIN COMFORT DISADVANTAGE: THE WEIGHT REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN NORMAL BODY ALIGNMENT OR FRACTURE ALIGNMENT CANNOT EXCEED THE TOLERANCE OF THE SKIN, ABOUT 6 lb PER EXTREMITY.

IN SKIN TRACTION, REMOVE WEIGHTS ONLY WHEN INTERMITTENT SKIN TRACTION HAS BEEN ORDERED TO ALLEVIATE THE MUSCLE SPASM.

BALANCED SUSPENSION TRACTION

IT INVOLVES MORE THAN ONE FORCE OF PULL. SEVERAL FORCES WORK IN UNISON TO RAISE AND SUPPORT THE CLIENTS INJURED EXTREMITY OFF THE BED AND PULL IT IN A STRAIGHT FASHION AWAY FROM THE BODY.

BALANCED SUSPENSION TRACTION

ADVANTAGE: IT INCREASES MOBILITY WITHOUT THREATENING JOINT CONTINUITY DISADVANTAGE: THE INCREASED USE OF MULTIPLE WEIGHTS MAKES THE CLIENT MORE LIKELY TO SLIDE IN THE BED.

TYPES OF TRACTION
1. SKIN TRACTION 2-3.5 kg 2. SKELETAL TRACTION 3. BALANCED SUSPENSION TRACTION 7 -12 kg 4. THOMAS SPLINT AND PEARSON ATTACHMENT 5. MANUAL TRACTION

TYPES OF SKIN TRACTION

1. 2. 3. 4. BUCKS EXTENSION TRACTION RUSSEL TRACTION CERVICAL TRACTION PELVIC TRACTION- 4.5-9 kg

IN SKIN TRACTION, FREQUENTLY ASSESS SKIN FOR EVIDENCE OF PRESSURE, SHEARING OR PENDING SKIN BREAKDOWN.

IN SKIN TRACTION, PROTECT PRESSURE SITES WITH PADDING AND PROTECTIVE DRESSINGS AS INDICATED.

MANUAL TRACTION
THE HAND DIRECTLY APPLIES THE PULLING FORCE

SKELETAL TRACTION
IT IS THE APPLICATION OF A PULLING FORCE THROUGH PLACEMENT OF PINS INTO THE BONE. THE CLIENT RECEIVES A LOCAL ANESTHETIC , AND THE PIN IS INSERTED IN A TWISTING MOTION INTO THE BONE THIS TYPE OF TRACTION SHOULD BE APPLIED IN A STERILE CONDITION BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF INFECTION ONE OR MORE PULLING FORCE IS MAY BE APPLIED

 IN SKELETAL TRACTION, NEVER REMOVE THE WEIGHTS. MAY REQUIRE MORE FREQUENT ANALGESIC ADMINISTRATION.

SKELETAL TRACTION
ADVANTAGE: MORE WEIGHT CAN BE USED TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ANATOMIC ALIGNMENT IF NECESSARY DISADVANTAGE: INCREASED ANXIETY, INCREASED RISK OF INFECTION, INCREASED DISCOMFORT

 FREQUENT SKIN ASSESSMENTS SHOULD INCLUDE PIN CARE PER POLICY. REPORT SIGNS OF INFECTION AT THE PIN SITES.

ASSIST IN REPOSITIONING. THE AREA OF THE FRACTURE MUST BE STABILIZED WHEN THE CLIENT IS REPOSITIONED.

MAINTAIN THE LINE OF PULL: A. CENTER THE CLIENT ON THE BED. B. ENSURE THAT WEIGHTS HANG FREELY AND DO NOT TOUCH THE FLOOR.

PERFORM NEUROVASCULAR ASSESSMENTS FREQUENTLY.

DO NOT WEDGE THE CLIENTS FOOT OR PLACE IT FLUSH WITH THE FOOT-BOARD OF THE BED.

MANAGING THE PATIENT IN UNDERGOING ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

JOINT REPLACEMENT TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES
OPEN REDUCTION INTERNAL FIXATION ARTHROPLASTY HEMIARTHROPLASTY JOINT ARTHROPLASTY OR REPLACEMENT TOTAL JOINT ARTHROPLASTY OR REPLACEMENT MENISCECTOMY AMPUTATION BONE GRAFT TENDON TRANSFER FASCIOTOMY

JOINT REPLACEMENT

TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

METHODS FOR AVOIDING HIP DISLOCATION AFTER SURGERY

KEEP THE KNEES APART AT ALL TIMES PUT A PILLOW BETWEEN THE LEGS WHEN SLEEPING. NEVER CROSS THE LEGS WHEN SEATED. AVOID BENDING FORWARD WHEN SEATED IN A CHAIR. AVOID BENDING FORWARD TO PICK UP AN OBJECT ON THE FLOOR. USE A HIGH-SEATED CHAIR AND A REAISED TOILET SEAT. DO NOT FLEX THE HIP TO PUT ON CLOTHING SUCH AS PANTS, STOCKINGS, SOCKS, OR SHOES.