About your visit
We have examined you and ascertained that you have broken your lower arm or have a fracture in the area around your elbow. Your arm has been bandaged or put in a cast. The cast is made of wood and comes from Woodcast. You have been given a sling to keep your arm immobile while it heals.
If you have been given a cast, it will be removed after ___ weeks, either by your general practitioner or at a check-up at the Ambulatorie for Kirurgi, Ambulatorie 2 (surgical outpatient department).
When you get home
Contact your general practitioner if your condition deteriorates
Call your general practitioner or dial 1813 to reach the medical helpline outside your general practitioner’s opening hours if you experience the following:
- your fingers become pale, cold or numb
- your fingers begin to tingle
- the cast feels too tight or begins to chafe
- the cast cracks
- the cast prevents you from doing your exercises
- there are signs of infection in your arm (fever, heat, redness and a throbbing sensation)
- the cast gets wet or become loose
- pain increases.
Take pain-relieving medicine if you are in pain
You should take pain-relieving medicine if you are in pain. Pain relievers can be bought at a pharmacy either over the counter or by prescription. Take only the amount of pain reliever recommended on the package. Contact your general practitioner if you need help managing the pain. Protect the cast when bathing/showering.
Cover your cast with a plastic bag when you are bathing/showering to avoid getting it wet.
The cast can cause irritation
When you have a cast, you will often experience that:
- you cannot move your wrist
- your arm becomes sore and tired
- you sweat under the cast and your skin itches
- you develop bruises or blood spots under your skin that extend to your fingers.
These symptoms will go away on their own.
If the cast has sharp edges that cause irritation, call the medical hotline on 1813.
Avoid inserting objects to relieve itching
Do not insert objects, such as a knitting needle, under the cast to relieve itching. You risk damaging the skin and causing sores.
Use the sling correctly
Your hand should be elevated above your elbow when wearing the sling. Use the sling on the first day, except at night. If your entire arm is in a cast, use the sling if you are in pain.
Do not wear jewellery on the arm in the cast
Avoid wearing rings on the hand of the arm in the cast as your fingers may swell.
Prevent swelling
To keep your hand from swelling, keep it level with your heart. Rest your arm on a pillow when you are sitting down, for example.
Use your arm while it is in a cast
Move your arm every day, even while wearing a cast. This will help you maintain mobility and avoid swelling. Use your arm as you normally would when dressing, cleaning and eating. Avoid lifting heavy objects, for example grocery bags, for one to two months.
Check-ups
If you need to visit the hospital for a check-up, we will notify you via digital or physical post, or we will call you with information regarding time and place.
On www.minsundhedsplatform.dk you can see a summary of your treatment (in Danish only). You can also download the MinSP app to your phone. Log on with your MitID.
If your condition deteriorates before your check-up, contact your general practitioner immediately. If your condition deteriorates acutely, dial 1813 for the medical helpline.
Exercises
Begin rehabilitation immediately
Start doing the exercises while you are wearing the cast. These exercises will help you regain mobility faster. We will guide you through the exercises.
Complete the exercises four to five times a day and repeat each exercise at least 15 times. Relax your shoulders and keep an easy pace.
If you begin to feel pain while doing the exercises, take a 30 minute break and then continue doing the exercises. Remove your sling when you are doing the exercises.
Exercise 1
- Stretch your fingers.
- Slowly make a fist by first bending the joints closest to the fingertip, then the middle joints and finally the joints at the base of your fingers.
- Release the fist and stretch out your fingers.
Exercise 8
Straighten your back, lower your shoulders and keep your arms by your side.
- Push your chest forward and pull your shoulders back.
- Let your chest and shoulders relax.
Worth knowing
We will assess whether you need to be examined for osteoporosis (brittle bones)
If the fracture could be due to osteoporosis, you will be referred to your general practitioner for an examination. In some cases, you will also have blood tests taken. Osteoporosis is easy to treat, and treatment will reduce the risk of more fractures.
Check your medical journal and test results
You can check your medical journal, health data and any test results at www.minsundhedsplatform.dk and www.sundhed.dk. They are both available as apps: MinSP and MinSundhed. Log on to the apps with your MitID.
We will notify your doctor
We will send information about your visit to the hospital to your general practitioner. Let us know if you do not want your general practitioner to receive information from the hospital.
Your personal data
The Capital Region of Denmark uses the personal data you share with us when you make an enquiry. You can read more about how we use your data and your rights on our website: www.regionh.dk/persondatapolitik (in Danish only).
Learn more
You can learn more about wearing a cast at www.patienthåndbogen.dk (in Danish only). Search under ’Gipsbehandling’ and perhaps ’Knoglebrud, generelt’.