Introduction

This site has information about the Plaster Lab Workshop for clinical clerks in the Emergency Medicine Rotation.

This site also contains several videos that demonstrate the application of common splints and casts in the emergency department.

There is also information on instructions that should be given to all patients with casts that are discharged from the emergency department.

Plaster Lab Workshop
General Casting Techniques
Casts and splints for various injuries or regions of the body
Removing a cast
Patient care handout for patients with casts

Plaster Lab Workshop

A hands-on Plaster Lab Workshop is part of the procedures series for Clinical Clerkship in Emergency Medicine at the University of Ottawa.

Students will practice putting on a short arm cast on each other. Students should be prepared to discuss the purpose and indications for a short arm cast, the materials needed, the precautions and contraindications to this procedure, and how to do it. A tutor will help students perfect their technique.

Important: Students must review the casting techniques, the Short arm cast video and the Cast removal video prior to this workshop.

Gowns and gloves will be available at this workshop as plaster is used.

The Plaster Lab is part of the supervised clinical experience. The date, time and place for the Plaster Lab is on the schedule.

General Casting Techniques The general principles of cast application are demonstrated in this video showing the application of a short arm cast.

Casts and splints for various injuries or regions of the body

Click on the thumbnails to view movies.
Note: Due to size, some movies may take a few minutes to load.

	Vietnam Sling How to apply a Vietnam sling for shoulder injuries.
	Sugar tong splint How to apply a sugar tong splint for a fracture of the humerus.
	Posterior slab for the elbow How to apply a long arm posterior slab splint.
	Ulnar gutter splint How to apply an ulnar gutter splint.
	Colles’ wrist fracture cast How to apply a cast for a reduced Colles’ fracture.
	Short arm cast How to apply a short arm cast.
	Volar slab How to apply a volar slab splint to the forearm.
	Thumb spica cast How to apply a thumb spica cast.
	Boxer’s cast How to apply a cast for a boxer’s fracture.
	Thumb gutter splint How to apply a thumb spica gutter splint.
	Long leg cast How to apply a long leg cast.
	Cylinder cast how to apply a long leg cylinder cast for fractures of the patella.
	Short leg cast How to apply a below knee non-weight bearing cast
	Posterior slab for the ankle How to apply a below knee posterior slab splint
	Short leg walker cast How to apply a below knee walking cast
	Walking heel application How to apply a walking heel to a below knee cast.

Cast removal How to use a cast saw to safely remove a cast.