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Injury & Fracture Care

Avoid the Wait: Treating Common Injuries

For many minor injuries, you can receive timely, expert care right here at Warrandyte Road Clinic, avoiding the long wait times often experienced at hospital Emergency Departments.

We are equipped to treat a range of acute non-life-threatening injuries, including:

  • Sprains & Strains: Assessment and management of sports injuries and soft tissue damage.
  • Cuts & Lacerations: Cleaning, gluing, or suturing (stitching) wounds.
  • Minor Burns: Treatment and dressing of minor burns and scalds.
  • Foreign Bodies: Removal of splinters, glass, or other minor foreign objects.
  • Simple Fractures: We can manage some uncomplicated breaks, such as wrist and hand fractures.

If you suspect a major fracture (bone breaking the skin), have a severe head injury, or are experiencing uncontrolled bleeding, please call 000 or proceed immediately to the nearest Emergency Department.

Fracture Management

Some of the doctors can apply plaster or fibreglass casts for simple fractures, such as distal radius or scaphoid fractures, after confirmation of the injury on xray. This ensures that your injury is immobilized correctly to promote optimal healing.

Caring for Your Cast & Fracture

If your doctor has provided you with a cast to treat your injury, it is essential to look after it carefully. Below is a guide on what to expect and how to manage your recovery at home.

What to Expect

  • Pain management: Fractures can be painful. The pain can be extreme at the beginning, but it will ease once the plaster is on and the limb is supported. The pain generally settles even further over the next few weeks. Simple painkillers, such as paracetamol, are often needed.
  • Healing: You may feel a lump at the site of the fracture. This is the new bone forming, which will eventually take on the shape of your original bone.

Caring for the Limb

  • Keep it raised: Keep the plaster raised to prevent swelling, especially for the first 48 hours.
    • Arm: Use a sling to keep it raised.
    • Leg: Place pillows under your leg.
  • Keep moving: Frequently move or wiggle the fingers (for upper limb plaster) or toes (for lower limb plaster). This helps to prevent stiffness and promote circulation.
  • Rest: Do not lift anything or drive until the fracture is healed.

Caring for the Plaster Cast

It is important that you look after your plaster cast.

  • Let it set: Rest for a couple of days after the plaster is applied to allow it to set completely.
  • Keep it dry: Keep the limb away from water and the rain. When having a shower or bath, put a plastic bag over the plaster and seal it with a rubber band.
  • Do not interfere: Do not cut or interfere with the cast. Never stick objects down the plaster as this may damage the skin.

⚠️ When to Seek Urgent Medical Help

You should see your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency department straight away if you have:

  • Severe pain despite taking painkillers.
  • Fingers or toes of the affected limb that go white or blue.
  • Fingers or toes that won’t move.
  • Pain on moving your fingers or toes.
  • Numbness or pins and needles.

Follow-Up and Recovery

  • Review: Your doctor will usually arrange a review appointment to make sure the plaster is fitted correctly. It is important that you keep this appointment and take your X-rays with you.
  • Timeline: On average, a plaster stays on for 6 weeks, though this may be longer or shorter depending on your age, general health, and the type of fracture.
  • Referrals: If there are problems with the fracture or healing, you may be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon.
  • Rehabilitation: After the plaster is removed, there may be some stiffness and weakness in the limb. This should improve as you go about your normal activities. You may need to see a physiotherapist for exercises to help with muscle strength, joint mobility, and balance.
  • Precautions: The bone will continue to recover even after the plaster is removed. You need to take extra care and precautions not to reinjure the recovering bone, especially for the next month.