What are the different types of casts?

Below is a description of the various types of casts, the location of the body they are
applied, and their general function.

Type of Location Uses

Cast
Short arm Applied below the Forearm or wrist fractures. Also used to hold the
cast: elbow to the hand. forearm or wrist muscles and tendons in place
after surgery.
Long arm Applied from the Upper arm, elbow, or forearm fractures. Also
cast: upper arm to the used to hold the arm or elbow muscles and
hand. tendons in place after surgery.
Arm Applied from the To hold the elbow muscles and tendons in place
cylinder upper arm to the after a dislocation or surgery.
cast: wrist.
Illustrations of arm casts, 3 types

Type of Location Uses

Cast
Shoulder Applied around the Shoulder dislocations or after surgery on the
spica cast: trunk of the body to shoulder area.
the shoulder, arm, and
hand.
Minerva Applied around the After surgery on the neck or upper back area.
cast: neck and trunk of the
body.
Short leg Applied to the area Lower leg fractures, severe ankle
cast: below the knee to the sprains/strains, or fractures. Also used to hold
foot. the leg or foot muscles and tendons in place
after surgery to allow healing.
Leg Applied from the Knee, or lower leg fractures, knee dislocations,
cylinder upper thigh to the or after surgery on the leg or knee area.
cast: ankle.
Illustrations of leg casts, 3 types

Type of Cast Location Uses

Unilateral hip Applied from the chest to the foot on Thigh fractures. Also used to
spica cast: one leg. hold the hip or thigh muscles
and tendons in place after
surgery to allow healing.
One and one- Applied from the chest to the foot on Thigh fracture. Also used to
half hip spica one leg to the knee of the other leg. hold the hip or thigh muscles
cast: A bar is placed between both legs to and tendons in place after
keep the hips and legs immobilized. surgery to allow healing.
Bilateral long Applied from the chest to the feet. A Pelvis, hip, or thigh fractures.
leg hip spica bar is placed between both legs to Also used to hold the hip or
cast: keep the hips and legs immobilized. thigh muscles and tendons in
place after surgery to allow
healing.

Illustrations of hip spica casts, 3 types

Type of Cast Location Uses

Short leg hip Applied from the chest to To hold the hip muscles and tendons in
spica cast: the thighs or knees. place after surgery to allow healing.
Illustration of child wearing a short leg hip spica cast

Type of Cast Location Uses

Abduction boot cast: Applied from the upper To hold the hip muscles
thighs to the feet. A bar and tendons in place
is placed between both after surgery to allow
legs to keep the hips healing.
and legs immobilized.
Illustration of child wearing abduction boots

Application of the long leg circular cast

The position of the fracture reduction is held by the surgeon.
Cast padding wool is applied. There is an option to apply several layers
of crepe bandage before the circular cast is applied.
In type C fractures, which are rotationally very unstable, rotational
displacement is controlled by the application of a long leg cast, applied
with the knee flexed about 15° degrees. The distal edge is located at the
level of the metatarsal heads.