Hairline fracture in hand, leaving for Bonaire in 2 weeks

[windjammer]

My son fractured the middle metacarpal bone in his hand last night. He is at the orthepedist right now. He is 13 and were are supposed to be leaving for a 2 week dive trip to Bonarire 2 weeks from yesterday. Obviously, everything is already paid for and non refundable at this point. I don't know if they can give him a waterproof cast. If they can, would it be okay to dive with it? He is limited to 60 feet and was really looking forward to the trip, but now says if he can't dive he's rather stay here with his grandma. Hadn't found anything after a quick query about bones healing while diving, etc. My wife is going to be asking all of these questions of his Dr. of course, but sometimes it's just easier for them to say no to anything to cover themselves. Any info would be appreciated.

Steve

 

[dvrliz1]

Steve,

I can check with the dive doctor down here. I know that they make an "air" cast in the states, I had a hairline fracture in my femur behind my kneecap and they put be in an "air cast". The also use velcro and plastic, great. My only concern is the possibility of water getting under the cast and with the moisture and warmth, creating a fungus, if it begins to itch he will want to get something in there to scratch and most likely will cause an infection. I just tried the Dr., but he won't be available until 3:30 here on Bonaire, so I will call him again. Once again, as about an air cast, I think it would work best. It can be removed easily and the hand can be dried off. If he can sit still, the velcro on the air cast can dry in a short period (20 minutes or less) in the Bonaire sun.

Liz
PS. I am the recompression chamber nurse on the island, hence the reasons for my concerns. I don't think there will be an issue as far as swelling or compression of the cast, well maybe minute, due to the air spacing, but I would DEFINITELY inquiry into an air cast.

 

[windjammer]

Thanks Liz,
We were told last night at the ER, that they thought they could make a waterproof cast. I'm not sure what that means, but I suspect it is just a fiberglass type cast that can get wet. I remember breaking my wrist years (30) ago and trying to fish a coat hanger inside it to scratch the itches, but I never intentionally got it wet. I think the fungus would be the biggest problem. I will call my wife who is sitting in the waiting room with him and mention the air cast.

Thanks again and maybe we'll see you in a couple of weeks. We are at SandDollar.

Steve

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Thanks again and maybe we'll see you in a couple of weeks.

Ummm, she's the recompresion chamber nurse I don't think I'd want to see her; unless she's off duty of course LOL! No offense Liz
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[Tom Smedley]

YOu might want to ask for a splint instead of a cast - It is held in place by an ace wrap that can be changed and the hand dried after being in the water. A cast that has been submerged whether fiberglass or plaster is a harbor for nasty critter growth if it can't be dried. Also constantly wet skin would start to break down. It would smell pretty pungent after a week of such treatment too.

 

[windjammer]

First Ber Rabbit,
You can't be at the chamber all the time. Seriously, I think we met Liz at one of Gibby's get togethers, which we are looking forward to in a couple of weeks if they are still in session.
Just got a call from wife. The doc put him in a goretex cast. He said that he has to wash/rinse the cast at least once a day whether he dives or not. He said the diving would be fine and just hose it off, inside and out when done. It should dry out in an hour. He did say that he would need to be careful not to get sand inside it, because it can get stuck in the goretex material and hard to get out.
I guess the doc had just returned from Aruba and had his arm in cast. Although I don't think he did any diving, he said it didn't limit him in any of his acitivities.

Thanks all for the comments. I'll let you know how things progress.

Liz, hope to see you in a couple of weeks. We are there 3/23- 4/8. Last year when there I had to visit the Doc for an ear infection. I was also there when he responded to the gentleman who had the heart attack at Sanddollar while diving.

Bon dia

 

[ItsBruce]

I dove with my hand in a cast over Christmas. I had one of the gortex lined fiberglass casts. I would periodically pour some of that liquid hand sanitizer down the thing to kill off the smell and anything that might want to grow inside. I had no problems.

Consider, however, getting a wetsuit over the cast. I had to use a "mickey mouse" rig which included the pants from a farmer johns, a hooded vest and a shorty to hold the whole mess together.