Gypsum bandages are the most widely used in modern traumatology for conservative treatment of fractures. It is not difficult to prepare them, and the material is relatively inexpensive, and it is not difficult to get it. But this very important stage in the process of treating a patient requires special training and a separate special room in a department or clinic. In order to properly prepare plaster splints, you should take courses and acquire additional specialization as a plaster technician-orthologist.
What is gypsum and what are its benefits?
The positive side of the cast is that it takes the shape of the patient's body and fits snugly to it. Fast curing and ease of removal have made this material widely used. If everything is done correctly, then bone fragments are simply doomed to proper fusion. Consolidation occurs in the shortest possible time, especially if a splint is applied to the hand.
Gypsum itself is a white powder, which consists of calcium sulfate, previously dried at a temperature of 100 to 130 degrees. Keep it in places that are inaccessiblewater, otherwise the material will become unusable.
Preparing the plaster cast
Before you prepare a bandage, you should measure the distance at which it will be applied. For example, a splint is applied to the hand from the bones of the fingers (heads of the metacarpal bones) to the middle third of the forearm. The length of the future device is calculated on the he althy side. A layer of cotton wool is placed on the measured bandage, on which a plaster bandage soaked in water is placed. Then, until the gypsum has hardened, it is distributed over the fracture area with the soft side. Fix with a soft bandage. In the area of bends or bony prominences, it is best to place a soft cotton roll, which will prevent pressure on the skin or neurovascular bundles.
The hardening time of a plaster bandage is different and depends on the temperature of the water in which it was soaked (its optimum temperature is 40 degrees), as well as on the batch of plaster bandage or powder, its storage time. Instead of cotton wool, which can go astray, you can use a stocking. It will provide softness.
The main thing is to do everything right
In order for the splint on the arm or any other part of the body to be applied correctly, it is worth adhering to certain subtleties during its manufacture. In advance, you should take care of the availability of the necessary material, as well as tools. During the application of the bandage, two adjacent joints must be immobilized, and if the shoulder or hip region is affected, three. At the ends of the bandage, in order to avoid pressure, a layer is placedcotton or soft bandage.
Before the cast hardens, the limbs should be given a functionally advantageous position, especially if a splint is applied to the arm. While the bandage is not frozen, the limb must be fixed motionless. In order to control her condition, the fingers should be open throughout the entire period of treatment, especially if a splint is applied to the hand or foot. As long as the bandage is not frozen, it should be handled with care. Otherwise, it may break, and the fracture may shift. A properly applied cast should not be loose, but on a par with this, it should not press, otherwise complications may arise.
There is an alternative
At present, the industry produces a large number of dressings that can be successfully applied during the healing process. But they often do not take into account the anatomical features of a person, as they are made according to a certain standard, and their cost is sometimes beyond the reach of a simple man in the street.
For emergency assistance, improvised materials are also suitable, from which a splint can be obtained. In this case, you can put a board or a piece of reinforcement on your hand. These materials can also be used on the lower limb, but they must be an order of magnitude longer. The material at hand must also differ in strength, so that during transportation of the victim it simply does not break and cause secondary displacement. A used syringe can make, for example, an excellent splint for the little finger, but a victim with a fractured spine should only be carried on a hard surface, such as a door.
Except longuet
In addition to the longet, which have become classics and the basis of the immobilizing bandage, there are also circular plaster analogues. But they should be applied carefully and only under the strict supervision of a doctor. This is due to the fact that the limb swells over time, and this is a natural reaction of the body to injury. Then the plaster should be cut. This should be done carefully and only in the hospital. At home, you can carefully trim the bandage with which the splint is fixed.
Circular plaster bandages are also often applied to the arm, which, as in other parts of the body, can be fenestrated, applied when caring for a wound or to prevent pressure from bony prominences. There are also bridge bandages that are applied in the area of the joints. But there are places where you can’t put circular devices too much, for example, if you need a splint on your finger.
