Thumb spica

Thumb Spica cast

Doctor's advice

Your doctor’s advice

A doctor has assessed you and decided you need to go into a thumb spica.

This casts can go from just below the elbow to the knuckles but include the thumb or from the wrist and up the thumb (depending on injury).

These casts are used for thumb injuries or some carpal bones (bones in the hand) injuries.

✓ Do

Keep your cast clean and dry

Getting it wet could irritate your skin. Either wrap a towel around it and keep away from water or purchase a waterproof cover (these are available online).

Do some exercises

Making a fist and stretching fingers out will also help relieve swelling. It is very important to keep the joints not in cast moving. If struggling to make a fist, opposite hand can be used to help fingers flex and extend.

Keep the casted arm elevated

In order to alleviate swelling/symptoms of swelling, arm must be elevated with hand above ear whilst making a full fist and releasing fingers for up to five minutes each hour. You should elevate arm whilst sat or stood up, not when laying down.

Get help if you need it

Contact plaster room if your cast becomes broken.

Be vigilant of cast rubbing/burning sensation inside cast. Contact plaster room ASAP.

If you have pain that cannot be controlled with pain relief you must attend A&E immediately.

Don't ✘

Don't remove your cast

Never attempt to remove a cast yourself.

Don't put plastic bags around the cast

Do not put plastic bags around the cast, these are not waterproof and can cause skin issues under the cast.

Don't stick objects in your cast if itching

This can cause additional skin problems under the cast that may require further medical treatment.

Never attempt to trim your cast

If there are rough edges or your skin is irritated around the ends, contact plaster room.

Warning sign

Swelling

Swelling or the symptoms of swelling of the upper limbs is common post injury/surgery.

Symptoms can include

  • throbbing, numbness, tingling sensation
  • change of skin colour to exposed areas of skin not in cast
  • cast feeling tight

What to do

In order to alleviate swelling/symptoms of swelling, arm must be elevated with hand above ear whilst making a full fist (without thumb) and releasing fingers for up to five minutes each hour. If struggling to make a fist, opposite hand can be used to help fingers flex and extend.

You should elevate arm whilst sat or stood up, not when laying down.

It is very important to keep the joints not in cast moving. See exercise video.

Better understand the pressure points

It is important to be vigilant of upper limb casts rubbing/causing pain. Prolonged pressure on a certain area has the potential to cause skin damage. Common areas this could occur in are

  • Around knuckles
  • Base of thumb
  • Around wrist
  • Around top of cast
Wrist and thumb
Check the edge of cast daily, if burning around the wrist, base of thumb or in between thumb space contact plaster room
Thumb Spica cast

See our self-help videos

Looking after a thumb spica

Contact us

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We are open
Monday-Friday
8:30am-4:30pm


Before you ring us…

It is really important that you use this Plaster Room site to access all the advice and information that we think essential for your successful recovery.

Get help if you need it

Please only ring us for one of these specified reasons:

  • if your cast becomes broken
  • if you have a cast that is rubbing or burning
  • if the cast is causing red area around the edge of the cast
  • if you have pain that cannot be controlled with pain relief

Tel: 01274 364174