How do I get rid of the horrible smell that is coming from the
fiberglass cast on my son's arm.....It stinks....He plays on his
school soccer team and is the kicker on the football team, so he does
sweat quite a bit each day.  The doctor said that this is normal and
you just have to live with it......It makes my son gag....Please help,
he has only had it on for four days and he still has four weeks to go!

lac,

If the doctor told you the odor is normal, I would have to assume the
odor  is NOT emanating  from INSIDE the cast (which could indicate
infection). Did the doctor see and smell the cast him/herself, or did
you speak by phone? Should the odor originate  from inside the cast,
please insist that your son’s arm  and cast be checked for signs of
infection.

 I will assume, for this answer, that the smell is coming from the
outside of the cast. Is it possible that water could have gotten  into
a small crack in your son’s cast, and is causing the odor?



Some sites state that a fiberglass cast can be washed. Did your doctor
mention whether your son is able to  bathe without covering up the
cast with plastic bags?
http://www.orthospecialist.com/resources/resources.asp?castcare=True


Procel, the maker of one brand of fiberglass casts states that you can
wash your fiberglass cast, with warm water and a mild soap. Because
fiberglass casts are somewhat porous, the water will drain out easily.
A hair dryer on a cool setting may be used as well, according to this
site:
http://www.castliner.com/faq.html#wash

From the Orthopedic and Neurosurgical  Center of the Cascades:You can
dry the cast with a hair dryer on a cool setting
http://www.neuro-ortho.com/patientedu/index.cfm?fuseaction=castcare

http://www.medformation.com/mf/transcript.nsf/alltopics/Cast_Care_Tips

“Because a fiberglass cast allows air through it, a hairdryer on the
“cool” setting should do the trick (do not try to dry it yourself
using a hairdryer without a cool setting”)
http://www.emedicine.com/AAEM/topic495.htm
and 
http://www.janela1.com/vh/docs/v0003082.htm
and
http://www.shs.unc.edu/library/articles/castcare.html
and
http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/bonesjointsmuscles/bone3439.html


Rub a small amount of baking soda on the outside of the cast:
http://www.ihc.com/documents/44/howtotakecareofacast.pdf
and
http://www.health-first.org/health_info/your_health_first/kids/spica_cast.cfm


Cincinnati Children’s Hospital had the most creative odor-controller:
Tape Odor-Eaters to the cast!
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/Health_Topics/Your_Childs_Health/bones_joints_muscles/Home_Care/hip-spica-care.htm

Here’s hoping one of the above methods makes the next four weeks
tolerable for your son and you! If this did not answer your question
to your satisfaction, please request an answer clarification before
rating.

Regards,
crabcakes

Search strategy;
Fiberglass cast
Fiberglass cast + foul odor
Fiberglass cast + remove odors

Baking soda absorbs odors, a sprinkle or paste may stop it.