Cast Cover: HSA Eligibility

Why do casts require covers?

In the event of a bone fracture or other major injury that will require immobilization of a specific area of the body to promote the healing process, casts are the most trusted means of rehabilitating these injuries. Casts are made with a soft cotton layer of padding that rests against the skin, as well as a hard outer layer made of plaster or fiberglass to keep the broken bone from moving. However, because casts must remain in place for weeks, or even months, casts have a unique maintenance regimen that ensures that the casts' structural integrity remains uncompromised and unnecessary moisture entering the cast cannot foster the growth of mold and bacteria that can develop into skin infections in some cases (ScienceDirect).

As such, cast wearers will have to go the extra mile to keep their casts clean and free of moisture for as long as they are required to heal the injury. Plaster casts should not be exposed to moisture under any circumstances and while fiberglass casts typically come with water repellent liners, both of these designs could become uncomfortable and irritate the wearer's skin when becoming wet. This is especially difficult to manage when bathing or showering, which is why cast covers were developed as a means of preserving the integrity of the cast.

How do cast covers work?

While at-home remedies like garbage bags wrapped around casts can work in some cases, cast covers provide a reusable method to keep a cast dry while showering, bathing or swimming. These multi-use covers are designed for specific areas of the body (e.g. leg, wrist, etc.) and form a tight seal around the body part to prevent moisture from permeating the inside of the cast where it could potentially do structural damage or cause discomfort to the wearer. These covers are designed to stay viable for as long as the cast will be worn, which can make it easier for adults and children alike to create an effective cast care regimen for the duration of their injuries.