Material

• The recorded use of plaster in medical situations begins with the Arabic world of the 9th century A.D., according to a Feb. 25, 2008, article in the "Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research" by Michael J. Hutchinson and Mark J. Hutchinson. The Dutch medical officer Antonius Mathyson initiated the use of plaster-impregnated bandages for treating musculoskeletal injuries in 1852. Plaster and fiberglass casts are now commonly used to splint limbs. Plaster of Paris is a type of calcium sulfate, which forms a porous mass used in making casts and molds when water is added, according to Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers.
  
  

Application

• The plaster that forms the hard supportive layer in the splint comes in strips or rolls. It is dipped in water and applied over a layer of cotton or synthetic padding that covers the injured area as a protective layer, according to Athroscopy.com. First, the padding is wrapped around the injured area, then the plaster is applied and wrapped with an elactic bandage, according to The Ohio State University Medical Center. The plaster then hardens to keep shape.
  
  

Problems

• The padding and plaster in plaster splints must both be kept dry. If the plaster becomes wet, the cast softens and loses strength and can no longer immobilize the injured area. The splint must then be replaced so that broken bones do not heal in the incorrect position. If the padding gets wet, it is difficult to dry, and the wet skin under the padding can develop rashes and infections or become macerated (soften and break down). All of these conditions require further treatment, according to Arthroscopy.com.
  
  

Care

• Plaster splints must be protected from water when showering or bathing by wearing a special, commercially available plastic bag. To prevent swelling due to injury from creating pressure in your splint in the first 48 to 72 hours, elevate the injured limb above your heart by propping it on a support, such as a pillow, advises Arthroscopy.com. You can also apply an ice bag over the splint, according to The Ohio State University Medical Center. File down any rough spots with an emery board and keep dirt, sand and water from the inside of the splint, Athroscopy.com recommends.
  
  

Prevention

• Call your doctor if the splint has rough edges or you feel like something is rubbing or cutting you, if the splint is loose and slides around, or if it is broken or damaged, according to The Ohio State University Medical Center. Call your doctor immediately if you have numbness or tingling, cold or blue fingers or toes, extreme pain, or swelling that is unrelieved by raising limbs and using ice packs, the center advises. Remember to consult a health care provider if you have any questions or concerns about your plaster splint.