When is a cast required?

For immobilization.: Orthopedic casts or splints are used to immobilize a bone or a joint in place until healing has occurred. They are frequently made of bandages impregnated with plaster. Long arm/leg, short arm/leg, thumb spica, finger spica are examples of extremity casts. Shoulder spica, hip spica casts involve large joints. An edf cast is used for infantile idiopathic scoliosis.

Depends: The nature of the fracture, or even ligament or tendon injury, whether it is is displaced or not, the mechanism of injury, time since injury to diagnosis, the location and many patient variables will determine the type and length of treatment.