Key facts
- Other names
- Body casts, plaster cast, surgical cast
via Wikipedia infobox
Research
4,614 papers- Cast-Related Complications.The Orthopedic clinics of North America · 2021
- Pediatric Orthopedic Trauma.Pediatric clinics of North America · 2020
- Casting vs Surgical Treatment of Children With Medial Epicondyle Fractures: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2025
- Cast Saw Burn Prevention: An Evidence-Based Review.The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · 2021
- Improving the Patient Experience During Care in the Orthopedic Cast Room.Orthopedics · 2024
via PubMed
Wikidata facts
- Subclass of
- bandage
- Image
- PIC 01955 CASTING PT XX.jpg
Show 2 more facts
- Commons category
- Orthopedic casts
- discoverer or inventor
- Antonius Mathijsen
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~29 min read
Encyclopedic overview
An orthopedic cast or orthopaedic cast, commonly referred to simply as a cast, is a form of medical treatment used to immobilize and support bones and soft tissues during the healing process after fractures, surgeries, or severe injuries. By restricting movement, casts provide stability to the affected area, enabling proper alignment and healing of bones, ligaments, and tendons. They are commonly applied to the limbs but can also be used for the trunk, neck, or other parts of the body in specific cases. Orthopedic casts come in various types and designs, tailored to the nature and severity of the injury, as well as the patient's needs. Advances in medical techniques have made casts more comfortable, effective, and versatile, allowing for both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing options.
Upper extremity casts
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “orthopedic cast” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.