Which of the following is a loosely fitting elastic bandage (commonly used as a liner under plaster of Paris)?

NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st

Medical Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st

Explanation

A stockinette is a soft, tubular, and elastic bandage designed to be worn directly on the skin.
It serves as the primary layer under a cast, acting as a barrier between the skin and the cast padding/material.
Its main purpose is to protect the skin from irritation, absorb moisture, and ensure a smooth surface to prevent pressure points.
The term 'loosely fitting' in the question correctly describes how a stockinette is applied to avoid restricting circulation before the other layers are added.

Option A: This is a specific taping technique for finger injuries, not a general-purpose liner for a limb cast.
Option C: A Mallet splint is a rigid, prefabricated device used to immobilize a single joint (the distal interphalangeal joint), not a soft liner for a cast.
Option D: Tubigrip is a compression bandage designed to apply pressure to a limb to reduce swelling and provide support. It is not 'loosely fitting' and is not used as a cast liner.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Materials for Cast Application as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proper application of a stockinette is a crucial first step in casting to prevent serious skin complications like pressure ulcers, maceration, and contact dermatitis.
Nurses must ensure the stockinette is smooth, without wrinkles, and extends beyond the cast edges. These edges are then folded back over the final cast to create a smooth, non-irritating border.
What if? If a patient with a cast complains of a 'burning' sensation over a bony area, the nurse must not ignore it. This could indicate excessive pressure and an impending pressure ulcer, requiring immediate assessment and potential bivalving or removal of the cast.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key descriptors in the question: 'loosely fitting', 'elastic bandage', and its specific use as a 'liner under plaster of Paris'.
The primary function is to serve as a protective layer for the skin under a cast.
Evaluate each option based on this function.
Eliminate 'Elastoplast buddy strapping' and 'Mallet splint' as they are specific treatments for finger injuries, not general cast liners.
Compare 'Stockinette' and 'Tubigrip'. Tubigrip is for compression, which is the opposite of 'loosely fitting'. Stockinette is the standard material used as a cast liner.
Conclude that 'Stockinette sling' is the correct answer, as it contains the key material used for this purpose.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 4 p. 117-119

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 6 p. 102-104