Can you go in with someone while arm cast is removed?

[blueagate1]

My mother's in a cast at the moment (broken wrist) and I'm wondering what happens when it gets removed at the end of the process. I'll be taking her to the hospital orthopaedics department as obviously she can't drive. I'm her temporary carer at the moment - will I be allowed to go in with her while she gets the cast removed and advice on follow-up care? I assume they usually allow parents to accompany their children after they've broken a bone so I can't imagine this would be different.

My husband was allowed in with me (pre Covid) when I had my cast and wrist wires removed. Although he went to the loo when it was my turn so the plaster tech held my good hand instead as I was nervous. It was all easy. I hope you can accompany your mum.

As for aftercare, they gave me a wrist brace with a metal insert amd that helped with the feeling that my wrist was still wobbly. Other than that, loads of moisturiser as I was very scaly, and possible some recommended exercises which are online.

I went in with my parent in exactly the same circumstances.

But that was many years before Covid and I’m not sure how things are now.

Probably best to phone (!) the hospital to check?

Thank you @CrepuscularCritter and @MuddlerInLaw . That makes me feel better. Going into hospitals makes me feel anxious due to past trauma so I really don't like being on my own in them, I know that probably sounds feeble!

Do you remember if you / your parent had to have a repeat X-ray at the end of the cast?

My DP came in with me whilst mine was fitted (wrist fracture) and will be coming when it’s removed. He’s much better about asking questions etc than I am as I’m usually more focussed on maintaining as much personal comfort as possible at the time. Xray I had to go in my own (not a problem for me, but a heads up if it’s an issue for your mum)

They will definitely take an XRay but I can't remember if it's before or after the cast comes off. It's no big deal they have a whizzy circular cutter that cuts the plaster and only the plaster. Your mum's arm will likely be very weak and she's need exercises and I would put on rinse and repeat that you want her to be referred for hand therapy. They may give her some tubigrip depending on the break but you will be better off buying a proper wrist support from Boots.

Wrists take a long time to fully recover. I'm assuming she hasn't had it pinned and plated and is just waiting for a half cast/splint to come off to be replaced with stable removable support.

Hi @MercuryOnTheRise , thanks for your message. I don't know if hospitals have changed their policy but the British Society for Surgery of the Hand said in their distal radius fracture guide that "A radiograph of the patient’s wrist at the time of removing immobilisation is not required unless there is clinical concern." Seems strange if they are not going to x-ray again. She had one when she first broke it, then a second x-ray a week later to check it was healing and in alignment.

Thank you for the advice, I'll suggest to her that she gets a wrist support. Yes luckily she didn't have to have it pinned. It's in a half cast at the moment

Why haven't you just called the fracture/ortho clinic to ask???

Advise that you are her carer and do you need to explain/prove this on arrival (I doubt you would) and ask what generally happens at the appointment.

@blueagate1 as the pp has said you can ask questions. How old is your mum? It sounds as though it was a fairly simple fracture and I'm not sure that merits worrying too much. I can recall one of the dc having an XRay at the time the plaster had to come off but that was 20 years ago and he was admitted at the follow-up apt to have it reset because the bones had moved.

I remember being XRayed a few times: obviously the day I did it, then two weeks after surgery when they changed the cast and again before the splint came off. In context the radius was badly broken, the ulna cleanly broken and there was a bit of a crack in one of the scaphoid bones. It's still a bit stiff but it's fine apart from that and I have a full range of movement (wouldn't risk a hand stand). I'm sure your mum will come on in leaps and bounds and will have a very enjoyable shower or bath very soon. Get her some Aveeno for the flaky, dry skin.

She may not reach the threshold for hand therapy but imo it would be well worth paying for a couple of sessions of physio.

It might be worth asking for a dexa scan to check for osteoporosis if it was injured during a minor accident.

Your mum may be given the wrist support when she has her cast removed. Mine was fitted by the medic I saw just after my wires and cast were removed. Hope all goes well for your mum.

I went to all appointments with my DM when she broke her wrist earlier this year. They didn't x Ray before the cast was removed. I didn't go in the room when that was done but I probably could have. I was just sat out side though and could hear what was being said to her. She got a support thing to wear afterwards but the doctor told her to wear it as little as possible to get her arm moving again. She was also referred for physio which happened very quickly.