Plaster Casting Technique I

Definition of plaster of Paris. Historical development of plaster of Paris and plaster casting. Relevance of orthopaedic plaster in the management of bone fractures. Roles of plaster expert in the management of orthopaedic and trauma conditions. Chemical composition of plaster of Paris; physical characteristics of plaster of paris; uses of plaster of Paris. Building facility structure, ventilation, illumination, entry and exit routes of a typical plaster room; human resources needed in the plaster casting room; materials needed in the plaster room such as furniture, equipment instrument and many others; financial resources and budgeting for an ideal plaster room; system of management of the plaster room; equipment and instrument needed in the plaster room such as Plaster cutter/shears, Plaster bender, Plaster scissors. Use of each equipment/instrument listed in above. Different types of plaster cast application such as colles’ cast, scaphoid cast and many others. Methods of plaster cast making. Complications associated with use of plaster such as swelling compression, damage to blood vessels, damage to nerves; process for dealing with the complications of plaster; care of patient in plaster cast. Procedure of removal of plaster cast; instruments for plaster cast removal. Reasons for removal of plaster cast; possible complications associated with the removal of plaster cast; possible hazards that may arise in the plaster room such as electrical wiring, slippery floor; protective wears for plaster room work. Safety precaution to hazards. Other materials that can be used for casting; different types of synthetic casts; advantages and disadvantages of synthetic casts over plaster of Paris; chemical composition of synthetic cast and moulding of synthetic casts. Different types of lifts for lifting and handling of patient in plaster. Mechanism of muscle contraction; terms – posture gravity and balance. Difference between lifting and dragging. Different methods of lifting and their techniques; different positions used in lifting; lift and handling patients in plaster cast. Different parts of upper extremities of human being slab plaster casts used for the management of bone fractures of upper extremities of human. Materials used in making slab of casts; making the following slab casts: below elbow back, above elbow back slab, cock up splint, anterior slab; different parts of the lower extremities; different slab plaster casts used for the management of bone fractures of the lower extremities. plaster bandages and padding materials used in plaster casting. process of making removable and non – removable below knee slab plaster cast. make removable and non removable slab casts. Counseling patient after applying slab cast.