How to Care for a Leg Cast on Children

Injuries to bones, ligaments and tendons require a period of immobilization to heal. In the doctor's office, fiberglass or plaster casting material is moistened and wrapped around the injured body part and hardens as it dries. Casts are frequently used on children because of their high level of activity and limited understanding of protecting an injured body part. Follow several steps to care for your child's leg cast.

Things You'll Need

• Pillows
• Plastic bag
• Two gallon-sized bags
• Two trays of ice cubes

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Instructions

• 1

  Elevate your child's leg on several pillows whenever he is not moving around. This will allow gravity to decrease swelling and move the fluid back toward the heart. Increased swelling can make his cast too tight, compromising the blood flow to his foot. Instruct your child to wiggle his toes frequently throughout the day to improve circulation.

• 2

  Cover your child's cast with a plastic bag before she bathes. Have her rest the injured leg on the edge of the tub and sit on a stool placed in the tub while bathing. Fiberglass and plaster casts will breakdown if they get wet, and skin irritation will occur inside the cast.

• 3

  Keep your child away from dirt, sand and other particles that could get into the cast. Skin irritation can occur and open wounds can develop. Instruct your child not to pick at the padding around the edge of the cast or place anything into the cast, even if the skin underneath is itching. Fill two gallon-sized bags with ice and place them on either side of the cast for 20 minutes to decrease these symptoms.

• 4

  Encourage your child to decorate his cast to make the wearing time more tolerable. Monitor for significant increases in pain and check for complaints of numbness or tingling, which could indicate that the cast is too tight or not fitting well. Cast changes might be necessary as swelling fluctuates.