Taking the plaster before the time is bad because the fracture may not be fully consolidated, that is, the bone may not have "stuck" completely and therefore is not prepared to receive loads or efforts considered normal in the day-to-day.
The role of plaster in the treatment of a fracture is to keep the bone in place so it can heal properly, so that the two ends of the fracture are aligned. Otherwise, the bone may not "glue" properly and form deformities or false joints.
However, unlike all other tissues in the body, which heal with fibrous tissue, the bone heals with bone and this healing begins to occur once the bone is broken. Hence the importance of putting the bone in place and implanting it as soon as possible.
Bones have a right time to consolidate when they are broken, depending on their characteristics, location It's from type of fracture:
- Clavicle: 25 days;
- Humerus: 30 days;
- Forearm (both bones): 25 to 35 days;
- Ulna: 25 to 30 days;
- Lower extremity of the radio: 25 to 30 days;
- Metacarpus: 20 to 30 days;
- Phalanges: 15 to 20 days;
- Femur: 4 to 6 months;
- Patella (after suturing): 1 month;
- Both bones of the leg: 35 days to 3 months;
- Upper leg extremity: 6 months;
- Tibia: 30 to 40 days;
- Fibula: 25 to 30 days;
- Ankle: 25 to 60 days;
- Metatarsals: 20 to 30 days.
Therefore, taking the plaster before the time is not recommended. It is up to the orthopedic doctor to define the time that the patient should remain with the plaster.
