Today our topic of discussion is Patient Education and Home Health Care.
Patient Education and Home Health Care
Patient Education and Home Health Care
When the cast is dry, the patient is instructed as follows:
- Move excessive use of the injured extremity.
- Avoid excessive use of the injured extremity
- Perform the prescribed exercises regularly, as scheduled Elevate the casted extremity to heart level frequently to prevent swelling Keep the cast dry.
- Wetners destroys the hardeners of plaster casts
- Do not cover the cast with plastic or rubber as their causes condensation and wetting of the cast.
- Avoid walking on wet floors or sidewalks
- Report to the physician if the cast breaks
- To clean a cast.
- Remove surface soil with a damp cloth.
- Stained areas may be touched up with a thin layer of white shoe polish.
- Do not attempt to scratch the skin under the cast.
- Smell the cast for foul odor and palpate for hot areas every shift.
- Do not use lotions or powder on the skin around the cast.
- Examine the skin around the cast edges for redness and irritation .
- Keep the cast dry during bathing by covering it completely with plastic, also tuck plastic into the ends to prevent water seepage under cast.
- Every joint that is not immobilized should be exercised and moved through its range of motion to maintain function .
- Teach the patient to tense or contract muscles without moving the part to reduce muscle atrophy and maintain muscle strength.
- It should be done at least hourly while the patient is awake.
- Report to the physician immediately in case of cast.
- Persistent pain Swelling in sensation.
- Changes in sensation.
- Decreased ability to move exposed fingers or toes.
- Changes in skin color and temperature.
- Indicates compartment syndrome which occurs due to an increase of tissue pressure within limited space that compromises the circulation and the function of the tissue within the confined area.
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