Final answer:
A cast is used to immobilize a hip fracture, maintaining alignment and restricting movement to promote proper healing and to prevent complications that arise from immobility, such as blood clots and infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Clients with musculoskeletal injuries, such as hip fractures, often require a cast to ensure proper healing. Hip fractures can be particularly severe in elderly patients, especially those with osteoporosis, leading to a compromised ability to heal properly. Complications from immobilization during the healing process, such as blood clots, pneumonia, pressure sores, and urinary tract infections, could be exacerbated if the fracture is not supported correctly, which is why casting is crucial.
A cast supports the area around the broken bone, maintaining proper alignment and restriction of movement, allowing for bone regeneration and minimizing the risk of misalignment. This is essential for hip fractures, which can result from or cause falls, especially when the femoral neck is involved. Additionally, without proper immobilization, muscle contractions could disrupt bone alignment during healing. Therefore, the use of a cast or splint is immensely important in managing fractures effectively.
In the case of particularly severe breaks, such as fractures involving the femur's diaphysis, surgical intervention may also be required, known as an open reduction, followed by immobilization via casting. The role of the cast is to facilitate the correct healing environment for the bone while mitigating the potential for severe complications such as pulmonary embolism or pressure ulcers that can lead to life-threatening infections.