What structural risk is associated with a patient allowing their Plaster of Paris cast to get wet?

Answer

Its structural integrity is compromised by initiating re-setting or weakening the material

The primary instruction given to patients with Plaster of Paris casts centers on strictly avoiding water exposure because moisture directly interferes with the material's chemical stability. When POP gets wet, the calcium sulfate dihydrate structure that was achieved during setting begins to reabsorb water, initiating the reversal of the setting reaction back towards the hemihydrate state, or simply degrading the crystal lattice holding the structure together. This compromise leads to a loss of rigidity and structural integrity. If the cast weakens, it can no longer reliably provide the external support necessary to hold fractured bone segments in perfect alignment, potentially leading to movement, instability, and failure of the fracture to heal correctly.

What structural risk is associated with a patient allowing their Plaster of Paris cast to get wet?

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