Procedure For Above Knee Full Slab

: Admin : 2021-11-06

People encounter injuries and accidents in life, causing fractures of bones, ligament tears and damage to the surrounding tissues. An orthopaedic surgeon studies the extent of damage on the fractured bone through an X-ray or CT scan. Once the lesion is detected and examined thoroughly, the surgeon decides on the method to suture the ruptured bone and ligaments to their normal contracture.

Plaster of Paris is used to cast fractures of bones. In knee injuries and proximal lower limb injuries, femoral fractures, full slab casts are applied from thighs to toes. The knee is kept elevated up to fifteen degrees in a flexed position.

The procedure involves preparation by arranging softball, plaster of Paris rolls, plaster slabs, struts, plaster sheers, lukewarm water bucket, knee rest, HPS input and wedge blanket. The skin is cleansed thoroughly with soap and warm water. The slab is measured from four fingers below the gluteal fold to the toes. It is cut in double lengths and folded in half to increase its thickness. The first layer of the padding is wrapped around the limb in two complete rotations. The padding is done till the proximal-most part of the limb where gaps are filled in thin spots with softball strips. Measured back slabs are applied from the region of the thigh extending to the toes which are again moulded as it reaches the toes. The excess slab beyond the foot is later cut and plastered. Measured struts are applied medially and laterally along the foot, extending up the leg.

The plaster is rubbed in a circular motion along with the slabs. The first layer of the plaster roll should complete two complete rotations starting with three fingers from the upper limit of softball without causing excessive tension by adding strength as the cast is applied near the toes.

The two-layered plaster slab is laminated by rubbing plaster in a circular direction. Once the procedure is complete it is allowed to dry for twenty minutes.  The patient is then discharged after a brief on essential guidelines on cast care and pressure injury prevention material.