Plaster casting is an immobilization method used to immobilize damaged bones, tissues and joints. It is applied for the purpose of reliable fixation, so that the fragments at the site of injury are not subject to displacement and grow together as correctly as possible.
At the request of patients, we apply plaster at home - quickly, safely, in compliance with all medical prescriptions. To do this, you need to make just one call and call a traumatologist. Based on the type of damage received, he selects the best option for applying plaster for a period of 0.5 to 1.5 months.
Types of plaster casts
They come in several types and are used based on the specific type of injury:
- circular (circular);
- corsetry;
- beds;
- longitudinal
Currently, polymer fixing dressings based on modern materials that successfully replace plaster are also in use. But both the first and second require medical intervention with vigilant medical supervision, since they significantly limit the mobility and self-care of patients.
The peculiarity of applying plaster at home is that patients are constantly monitored, receive maximum comfort and recover faster. As a rule, bone fusion and restoration of damaged tissue in this case occurs quickly, without complications.
Go to section: Home visit of a traumatologist
How long does it take to walk in a cast if you have a broken finger?
The bones of the fingers and toes are called phalanges and belong to the tubular bones. Their structure is such that they grow together faster than flat, spongy and mixed bones.
Since the phalanges are the smallest tubular bones, of all the bones of the human skeleton, they heal injuries the fastest.
The thumbs consist of 2 and the rest of 3 phalangeal bones
The healing of a broken bone, and bone tissue begins to recover almost immediately after damage, occurs with the formation of a primary callus. In an adult and healthy person, this process lasts for 2 weeks.
At this time, the bone fragments should fit tightly to each other and not move. To do this, if necessary - if the fragments were displaced during a fracture, a reposition is made, restoring the natural anatomical configuration of the bone, and then fixed. This period of illness is called immobilization.
An alternative to plaster for a broken finger
For simple, uncomplicated injuries, to immobilize the broken part of the limb, apply a bandage using “classic” plaster. This method of treatment is called conservative.
Today, the plaster cast is being replaced by modern innovative materials and finished products - polymer plaster, Turbocast, splints, orthoses, bandages and splints. Some of the varieties of such immobilization are presented in the photo above.
It is the time required for the first “gluing” of bone tissue that determines how long the cast needs to be worn if a finger is broken - this is 14 days.
For your information. Healing of bone damage in children occurs somewhat faster than in adults, and at all stages. During the immobilization period this is several days, but in general, the period until the final consolidation of the fracture site is reduced, sometimes by 2 times.
By the way, a plaster cast for a broken finger or its modern analogue is also worn after surgery for complex fractures, when the doctor is forced to fasten bone fragments with titanium wire or a plate.
Fresh fracture of the radius
Home > Fracture of the radius
It's no secret that a person has a radius bone in their hand, and in that radius bone there is a typical place where it breaks.
It would seem that the fragment is very small and the fracture is insignificant
This image also shows a noticeable displacement along the articular surface, which, despite the apparent insignificance of the fragment, requires further examination
Indeed, when falling on the hand, the radius bone in the area of the distal metaepiphysis is often broken (this is the correct name for that “typical place”).
Computed tomography clearly shows the defect of the articular surface
Due to damage to the articular surface of the radius, subluxation of the lunate bone occurred
There are different types of fractures depending on the displacement of the fragments: there is a Colles, Smith, Thompson fracture. There is also an AO classification, in which each type of fracture is assigned an alphanumeric code depending on the complexity. In any case, these nuances are for specialists, and this article is more popular than scientific.
Closed manual reduction (reduction of fragments) is a basic skill of any traumatologist. A fracture of the radius in a typical location is just such an injury for which this manipulation is very effective. There are several ways to reduce fragments of the distal end of the radius - this is manual traction along the axis, and hanging the hand by the fingers and reposition due to muscle relaxation, and holding the wires in a special way (Kapandzhi osteosynthesis).
After placing the fragments in place, they are fixed with a hard bandage made of plaster or plastic. Immobilization of the elbow for fractures of the radius in a typical location can be considered a “relic of the tsarist regime”; most traumatologists have not done this for a long time, although classic Soviet textbooks recommend it. Unfortunately, I happened to meet a patient who had plaster applied to her fingertips, and this was a grave mistake.
After 7-10 days, it is necessary to perform control radiographs of the wrist joint, because During this time, swelling in the fracture area decreases and secondary displacement of fragments may occur.
In modern orthopedics, surgery for fractures of the radius is becoming more popular due to the refinement of our knowledge about the anatomy of this area and the publication of the results of various treatment methods. Mandatory for restoration are the length of the radius, a continuous smooth articular surface, and its angles of inclination. To clarify the position of fragments in complex fractures of the distal ray, it is necessary to perform computed tomography for high-quality preoperative planning.
Even for such a small fragment you have to use a full-fledged special plate
The lateral view shows that the subluxation of the lunate has been corrected.
After a correctly performed operation or after 6 weeks in a comfortable and individual hand orthosis, a person has every chance to return to normal activities without fear for his hand.
You can discuss your case in more detail during a personal meeting.
The estimated cost of surgical treatment of this pathology is 90,000 - 120,000 rubles, depending on the volume and complexity of the intervention
You might be interested in:
- Mallet finger injury
- Skier's finger
- Scaphoid fracture
The structure of the finger joint and its main functions
Toes are an integral part of the locomotor system in the human body. Together with the foot, they support the weight of the body, make it possible to move, while helping to maintain balance.
Each toe consists of several small bones, otherwise called phalanges. They are connected to each other by movable joints, which makes it possible to bend and straighten the fingers.
Limbs are a vulnerable part of the human body, which is most often subject to fractures. In most cases, the thumb is affected. It differs from the others in that it has only two phalanges instead of the required three. When walking, the big toe experiences the main load. The likelihood of getting a fracture increases several times. When injured, blueness and swelling usually spread to the entire foot.
Causes of a dislocated finger
The main reason for a dislocated finger is a force that exceeds the ability of the ligaments to stretch. Such injuries are often caused by sudden bending or straightening of the fingers. Damage can occur when falling on an outstretched arm or hitting something hard.
Finger injuries are common among professional athletes who suffer sprains during active training. The joint of the little finger is considered the weakest, which is often damaged even from light blows and falls. Some patients are predisposed to finger dislocations. At risk are elderly people suffering from joint pathologies, as well as patients with a history of repeated limb injuries.
If obvious signs of a dislocated finger appear, you should immediately visit a traumatologist. Only a doctor can assess the extent of damage to the phalanx and promptly realign the joint. In our Clinic, patients can undergo a high-quality examination and, based on its results, receive an individual treatment plan.
Prevention
To avoid broken toes, doctors advise wearing comfortable shoes with stable soles. You should also exclude from your diet foods that “wash out” calcium from the body. These include sweet carbonated water, coffee and alcoholic drinks. Nutrition should be as balanced as possible. It is recommended to pay special attention to foods containing calcium (beans, cabbage, carrots, rye bread). In case of bone tissue pathologies, it is recommended to undergo regular examination. Such simple preventive measures can prevent fractures, significantly improve the quality of life and remain healthy.
Diagnostic measures
Often injuries and mechanical damage to the extremities are asymptomatic, for example, when they talk about a fracture without displacement. In such cases, a person usually ignores the pain and does not pay enough attention to it due to the fact that he is unaware of the damage.
Sometimes victims are simply too lazy to seek qualified help and undergo appropriate examination. The consequences of such neglect of one's own health can be serious complications (bone deformation, osteomyelitis, malunion).
In addition to the trauma symptoms mentioned in this article, great importance in diagnosis is given to radiography of the foot in two projections. Using this study, you can recognize a fracture of the big toe with 99% accuracy. Radiography allows you to determine the exact location of the damage, which ultimately affects the quality of therapy.
More complex methods of visualizing trauma (computed tomography) are practically not used, since they are not necessary, and the cost of such studies is quite high.
What signs indicate injury?
Manifestations of a big toe fracture can be relative and absolute. In the first case, one can only assume the presence of injury. With absolute symptoms there is no doubt.
Relative signs of injury include:
- acute pain;
- the damaged area swells;
- limb function is impaired;
- the possibility of hemorrhage under the nail cannot be ruled out;
- pain occurs when you move your finger.
The intensity of the manifestation of relative symptoms directly depends on the location of the fracture. The clinical picture is especially pronounced when the main phalanx, which communicates directly with the bones of the foot, is injured.
The leg quickly swells and becomes bluish. The painful discomfort that accompanies this pathology usually does not allow the victim to fully lean on the limb. Often an open fracture of the big toe is complicated due to damage to the skin and infection. In this case, the person exhibits obvious signs of intoxication of the body.
Fracture treatment tactics
The doctor chooses a specific treatment option based on the nature of the injury. With an open fracture, there is a risk of wound infection. The pathology is often accompanied by suppuration and tetanus. Such patients are given antibiotic injections and anti-tetanus serum.
The closed version of the injury requires repositioning of the bone, that is, returning the fragments to their anatomical place. A fracture with a displaced big toe requires the placement of the fragment in place and its correct fixation. Otherwise, fusion may not occur correctly.
An intra-articular fracture requires surgery. During the operation, the doctor performs an open reposition of the fragments and performs intra-articular fixation using special wires. Mobility of the affected joint is restored approximately by the eighth week. Throughout the entire period of treatment, it is recommended to support the body with vitamin therapy.
How long does it take to remove a plaster cast for a broken finger?
But whether the doctor will allow you to remove a plaster cast, bandage, splint, splint or orthosis 10–14 days after a bone fracture depends on:
- speed and correctness of first aid, both pre-medical and medical;
- accuracy of comparison and ensuring the immobility of bone fragments;
- the patient’s desire to be treated, his compliance with all prescriptions, instructions and recommendations of the doctor;
- patient's age;
- severity of injury;
- the presence of pathologies that interfere with the natural rate of connection of fragments with granulation tissue, the formation of primary callus and its transformation into full-fledged bone tissue.
However, it should be noted that in most cases of hand injury, there are no fundamental shifts in the timing of when to remove the plaster for a broken finger.
Attention. To date, injections or tablets that would accelerate the formation of granulation tissue that forms at the site of bone fracture as a “primary glue” have NOT yet been invented (!), and abuse of drugs with Ca can cause tissue calcification and serious health problems.
In case of a fracture of the middle finger, it is better to replace the plaster with a splint or bandage; their price is quite affordable
Many people are interested in whether it is possible to remove a cast if a finger is broken, keeping in mind modern orthopedic products used for immobilization?
Yes, you can. But it is recommended to do this only when necessary, for example, to perform a physiotherapeutic procedure. In all other cases, it is better not to disturb the broken phalanx again.