Gypsum bandage: application, manufacture, application and care

Gypsum bandage is a special dressing made from hemihydrate of calcium sulfate and high-quality cotton. It is used in traumatology and orthopedics to fix bone fractures, immobilize joints. Using a plaster cast, you can fix almost any part of the body.

Plaster bandage dressings have been widely used since the 1970s as support for immobilizing broken bones. Gypsum-soaked gauze is dipped in water. Then they take out and wrap around a broken limb. When dried, a strong so-called bandage is formed. The plaster cast immobilizes the limbs while the bones are fused.

Plaster bandage is worn for approximately 6 to 8 weeks. Sometimes the duration of being in the cast can be longer or shorter, depending on the severity and location of the fracture.

Application

The main purpose of using a plaster bandage is to fix fragments of bones and joints. A plaster cast is applied in the following cases:

• joint immobilization in case of ligament injury, joint swelling due to illness;
• tendon rupture;
• fractures, bruises, cracks, sprains;
• bone operations (osteotomy);
• complex wounds;
• children's orthopedics (congenital clubfoot, hip dislocation);
• manufacture of orthopedic devices.

Manufacture

The fixing bandage can be made manually or bought ready-made at the pharmacy.

The process for making gypsum bandage is as follows:

1. Anhydrous calcium sulfate (gypsum) is gradually and evenly applied to the surface of dry cotton gauze with a length of 500 cm and a width of 15 cm.
2. The applied gypsum is rubbed into gauze. The excess is removed.
3. The bandage is rolled up and stored in a dry place.

Overlay process

To apply gypsum, you should contact a medical institution. But in the absence of such an opportunity, a fixing bandage can be done at home.

How to apply a plaster bandage? The process consists of several stages. You will need a medical plaster bandage, cotton wool, bandages, scissors and warm water:

1. First you need to clean your skin. If there are wounds, apply bandages from the bandage, avoiding the appearance of wrinkles.
2. Bony protrusions such as the knee, elbow, and ankle are covered with a uniform layer of cotton.
3. The gypsum roll is soaked in a bucket (basin) in water at room temperature. It is not recommended to use hot water. The heat generated by the setting of gypsum can burn the skin. When air bubbles cease to form, the bandage is completely saturated and ready for use.
4. Carefully lift the ends of the dressing with both hands, squeeze gently without twisting.
5. When applying a plaster bandage, hold the corresponding part of the body in a stable position. Work fast without interruption. Each layer is applied evenly on each other, smoothing the folds. The previous layer of the bandage overlaps approximately half the width.
6. The bandage is also applied above and below the fracture site.
7. The plaster bandage dries in about 25 minutes. Full solidification will occur after 24 hours. During this time, it is not recommended to physically affect the fixed area.

Dressing care

After applying a plaster bandage, you should follow some rules:

• Avoid getting water on the plaster cast. When taking a shower, it is necessary to cover the gypsum with cellophane.
• Do not scratch the skin under the cast with a sharp or blunt object, as this can lead to damage to the skin and infection.
• In case of a broken leg, one should not step on a fixed limb. Better to use crutches.
• Do not remove the plaster cast without the permission of a doctor.

If the following symptoms appear, seek medical attention:

• wet plaster bandage, the formation of cracks or kinks;
• the appearance of increasing pain, despite taking painkillers;
• discoloration of the skin of a fixed limb;
• numbness or tingling in the limb;
• inability to move fingers;
• the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

Bandage removal

After removing the plaster bandage, some stiffness and weakness in the limb may occur. Sometimes physiotherapy may be needed to recover. It includes exercises to improve joint mobility, maintain balance, and prevent muscle atrophy. After removing the plaster bandage, it is recommended that the broken bone be preserved for about a month.

The skin may look a little paler than usual. This will pass after a while.