The hand in a plaster pains and flows: what to do or make?

Fracture or dislocation of the hand is a big trouble. Moreover, severe pain will be felt not only at the time of injury, but also during the entire time before the casting of gypsum and some time after, so also the mobility of the limb will be lost for quite a long time.

What is the composition of gypsum?

By itself, gypsum is a natural natural mineral. Since it is impossible to use it in its pure form, a fine powder is made from it, which is then calcined to completely dry, since the remaining moisture can promote back solidification.

How to impose a plaster bandage?

On the injured limb, pre-cast gypsum bandages made by industrial methods are most often applied. But sometimes you have to do them directly before using the method of rubbing gypsum powder in traditional medical gauze bandages. This is a very laborious process, therefore, whenever possible, try to avoid it.

For plaster bandages, gypsum bandages are used. First, such a bandage is placed in a container with warm water so that it is completely covered with water. When air bubbles disappear on the surface, it means that the bandage can be removed. At the same time, keep it horizontally and for both ends, otherwise the gypsum will flow into the water.

The ready bandage is applied to the required areas and fixed. Soon the solution hardens to the stone state and reliably immobilizes the injured limb. Overlay can be made both uncoated and underlayment.

In the first case, cotton pads protect only the places where the bones protrude; in the second, the cotton pad between the elastic (bottom) and the usual (top) bandage covers the entire gypsum area. This is more preferable option, as it is easier to observe the dryness of the skin and avoid the occurrence of pressure sores.

In addition, often apply longures - bandages from several layers of soaked gypsum bandage. Longets can be fixed with a normal bandage, rolling it in a circular motion. It is necessary to constantly monitor how the gypsum is applied, so that the dressings completely repeat the contours of the limb, and also, so that no folds are formed. Otherwise, you will very quickly change the bandage to a new one because of irritations and severe pain.

For how long is the gypsum applied?

The question arises, how much wear gypsum with a fracture of the hand? The duration of wearing gypsum depends on the severity of the injury, but the average period of adhesion is from 3 to 10 weeks. The fingers are most likely to part with the plaster, the longest it will be to wear it on the forearm. In the case of severe fractures of the fragment type, the doctor may leave the cast for a period of up to 3-4 months.

The removal of gypsum can also be delayed if the patient has problems with the restoration of damaged tissues and bones. Most often this is due to the fact that it is most difficult to keep the hands in complete rest (for example, if a plaster cast on the finger is applied), whereas this is what all fractures require. Perhaps, the body lacks the necessary substances for the speedy healing, then additionally prescribe medicines, vitamins and minerals that contribute to this.

Even in spite of the gypsum bandage, it is impossible to move a limb, but often this happens involuntarily, because it is impossible to control reflex movements for a long time. After the gypsum is removed, the patient awaits a long period of rehabilitation, on average takes about six months. How to remove gypsum, as well as other information related to this issue, is contained below.

Complications while wearing gypsum

For the early healing of damaged limbs, plaster bandages are used. After applying the gypsum, there are often unpleasant moments that need to be carefully monitored and not run in order to prevent the development of more serious problems.

1. Puffiness. In itself, edema in fractures is a common thing, and it will not go away at once, especially if one considers that the gypsum still squeezes the limb, fixing it. If the dressing is applied correctly, within a few days, a maximum of two weeks, the swelling will subside, and soreness will decrease.

Immediately visit a doctor if:

• Damaged hand in plaster becomes cold;
• Fingers become cyanotic, pale or red;
• The arm or hand in a gypsum hurts , thus the pain becomes acute or amplifies;
• There is numbness of the limb, its sensitivity decreases;

Such symptoms are characteristic of the transmitted vessels and nerves, which happens due to severe swelling of the tissues. Violation of blood circulation leads to severe consequences until necrosis and amputation. Therefore, it is necessary to remove gypsum urgently. You can call an ambulance or visit a trauma center. An alarm signal is also a symptom if the arm is numb under the plaster.

Means against puffiness

To swelling more quickly subsided, apply both medicines and traditional medicine:

• Heparin ointment and "Troxevasin" gel;
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, most often based on ibuprofen. If the hand in the cast is swelling, a good effect is given by such drugs as "Nimesil", "Naiz", "Mig", "Ibuklin" and ibuprofen itself. Use these funds can be even pregnant and lactating women, of course, following the necessary precautions;
• Compresses based on wormwood, marigold, juniper, golden mustache, cornflower;
• Baths with pine extract, iodized ordinary or sea salt;
• Infusions of aloe, calendula, chamomile and other herbs that help reduce inflammation. Are accepted inside. The main thing - do not take concurrently with medications;
• Blue clay has proven itself as a remedy effectively removing edema;
• Infusions of aloe, calendula, chamomile and other herbs that help reduce inflammation. Are accepted inside. The main thing - do not take with medicines at the same time.

Massage, physiotherapy and physiotherapy also help to reduce puffiness as soon as possible. It can be electrophoresis with anesthetic solutions, stimulation by an electric current, ultraviolet, various applications, including mud.

As the edema decreases, the casts are usually changed to prevent excessive freedom of the limbs.

2. Bedsores. This is also a place with impaired blood circulation, most often occur where the gypsum is too tightly attached to the skin without a lining, on the protuberances of the bones. The bedsore can provoke crumbs of gypsum, creases or lumps of bandage and cotton wool, used as a lining. After a while, the wound begins to fester, leaking gypsum with brown spots, from which an unpleasant smell emanates. In this case, the suppuration place is washed with an antiseptic, for example chlorhexidine, treated with wound healing ointments, such as levomecol, Vishnevsky ointment, and bandaged with a sterile dressing. Treatment is performed regularly until complete healing.

3. Losses, blisters, dermatitis and eczema are also possible when the hand in the plaster is for a long time. Appear either as a result of allergic reactions, or due to the displacement and friction of the dressings over the skin. The treatment is similar to that used to get rid of bedsores, only in addition anti-allergic drugs are used, both topically and inwardly. The doctor must prescribe them on the basis of a picture of the complication. The range of such medicines is huge, so do not self-medicate. In the best case, it just does not help.

4. Very often, a strong itching occurs under the plaster bandage . What to do if my hand is scratched under a cast? Many people in such cases try to stick a knitting needle, a pencil, wire and the like. Doctors warn that it is worth doing only in extreme cases, when it is no longer possible to endure.

First, you can damage the skin, which is already getting it. Secondly, the lining put under the gypsum, from such actions is knocked down, lumps and creases appear on it, which lead to the problems described above.

Itching appears from the fact that the skin under the plaster perspiration, the cells die, there is peeling. Proceeding from this, it is recommended to maintain as much as possible physical rest, avoid exposure to the sun and in hot rooms.

You can try pouring talcum powder or baby powder under the bandage. After the moisture is gone, the itching will be easier. However, then remove the powder will be problematic, will have to wait for the next change of gypsum. A good result is a jet of cool air from the dryer, while cooling and drying the itching areas.

Good antihistamines are used, which are used from insect bites. They are desirable to drink at night, since many have a pronounced hypnotic effect, and at night, as is known, all the unpleasant sensations intensify, that is, they become even more difficult to bear.

Disadvantages of conventional gypsum

Gypsum with a fracture of the hand contributes to the early fusion of the limb.

The most common natural gypsum perfectly fixes and easily overlaps, but has its drawbacks:

• It is cumbersome and uncomfortable;
• Strongly limits mobility and mobility;
• Quickly becomes dirty, so that the hand in the cast looks very unaesthetic;
• It must be protected from moisture ingress, because of this it is very inconvenient to wash, especially with the plaster hand;
• Clothes to pick up is quite difficult, because the limb becomes much thicker due to the superimposed bandage;
• To make an x-ray to control the healing, you will have to remove the bandage, and then apply a new one, since the rays do not pass through it.

Types of gypsum

In his time, new types of materials are coming to him:

1. Scotchkast is a polymeric immobilizing bandage of a high degree of rigidity. It is very light, but at the same time it perfectly fixes a fracture, lets air in, which means it allows the skin to breathe. In addition, this material is waterproof and dries quickly. However, it is still undesirable to wet it, since a cotton-gauze pad, which dries badly, is usually put under it, it can become a source of irritation and an unpleasant smell.
2. Zellacast (softtext) is a fiberglass bandage impregnated with a fast hardening polyurethane resin. Has the same advantages and disadvantages as the Scotch, and also allows you to do an X-ray, without removing the bandage and without worrying once again the place of injury. It refers to semi-rigid immobilizers, which avoids partial muscle atrophy. But on complex fractures such gypsum is not imposed precisely because of its partial mobility.
3. NM-caste is similar to a large-mesh stocking, when dried, it adheres perfectly to the skin and repeats the shape of the limb. Easy to use and wear, often used to fix hands. It also uses a special lining, but since the cells of such a lock are large, and the lining is made of synthetic quick-drying materials, it becomes easier to take a shower.
4. Turbocast - thermoplastic orthosis. The most optimal type of device for treating injured limbs.

Pros and Cons of TurboCast

If there is a choice, doctors advise applying plastic gypsum. It appeared only recently, but it was so convenient and simple to use that it was used very quickly all over the world. How to use plastic plaster on the hand, the price, as well as its properties are detailed below.

1. Turbocast is a solid material, from which small pieces will not be broken, irritating the skin under the bandage. It does not require a gasket, therefore, the appearance of rubbers is excluded.
2. Such a gypsum is very light, which is important for maintaining an active lifestyle, especially for children.
3. Since the plastic is water-resistant and does not have a lining, washing stops being a problem, which it always is when wearing ordinary gypsum. In addition, the turbo-box itself retains a neat and presentable appearance for a very long time.
4. Air permeability is a very important factor. The more air, the faster the process of adhesion, the skin under the bandage does not get wet, do not appear intertrigo and irritation.
5. To impose such a gypsum, it is enough to heat it all up to 40 ⁰ C, and it will become plastic, adjusting to the parameters of the patient. After reheating, it returns the original shape, so the turbo-ball is a reusable tool.
6. Rehabilitation after withdrawal is much faster, and the risk of complications and the emergence of allergies is minimized.

However, there are small cons:

1. How much does it cost to put plastic plaster on your hand? The price for it starts from about 500 rubles, and this is only the material itself, besides one thing may not be enough. For the procedure of imposing it will be necessary to give an average of 7-9 thousand rubles.
2. Since the procedure so far is quite new, it has not yet been mastered in all clinics, even paid, so it may not be possible to find a specialist immediately.
3. Remove or prune such material at home will not work, as it lends itself only to a special file that the medical staff uses to cut plastic gypsum.

Rehabilitation

When and how to remove gypsum, and also what recommendations should be followed after this, read below. After removing the gypsum, it will take some time to recover. Many in this period there is numbness of the hand, which was gypsum. Most often this is a temporary phenomenon, which will take place during the week, if you are engaged in physical therapy, apply manual therapy and develop a limb.

It is necessary to eat properly, paying special attention to sufficient intake of B vitamins, in particular B12, another name - cyanocobalamin, or cobalamin. It promotes the rapid regeneration of tissues, nerve fibers and organs, supporting them in a full state.

Vitamins in foods

The following products are rich in this vitamin:

• Liver of beef, chicken and pork;
• Kidney beef;
• seafood;
• Fatty species of sea and ocean fish;
• mutton;
• Eggs;
• turkey breast;
• Milk, dairy products and cheeses. They also contain calcium, which is necessary for strengthening bone tissue;
• Soybeans;
• spinach;
• Green onions;
• Sea kale;
• Wheat sprouts.

It should be noted that the content of B12 in plant products is very low, so you can take such additives as, for example, brewer's yeast.

If the numbness does not go away, you should consult your doctor for damage to the nerves or blood vessels. In time, the prescribed treatment, as a rule, gives good results, but discomfort can remain forever, especially clearly manifested in stress, diseases and sudden weather changes.