A MORE COMFORTABLE CAST?
A TRIAL OF A WATERPROOF LINER

By F. Harlan Selesnick, M.D.

The Physician and Sportsmedicine, Vol. 21, No. 5, May 1993

comfortable_diver.gif (172499 bytes)

Dr. Selesnick is an orthopedic surgeon in private practice in Miami and assistant clinical professor at the University of Miami Medical School in the department of orthopedics and sports medicine.  He is a team physician for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association, Miami Jai Alai, and Dania Jai Alai.

        In brief, this prospective study of 140 consecutive patients who needed cast immobilization tested the comfort, practicality, and possible cutaneous side effects of a waterproof cast liner that allows swimming, bathing, and hydrotherapy without special drying procedures.  Minor cutaneous complications were observed in 4.3% of patients; none required medical care.  Odor, itching, and difficulties with drying after wetting were minimal.  Physician and patient satisfaction levels with the cast were high.

        Waterproof casts are a new treatment option for patients who have nondisplaced fractures, stable fractures, or severe sprains, especially for active people who swim or sweat.

        Traditional plaster of paris and fiberglass casts often cause cutaneous complications1-9, including bacterial infections, fungal infections, maceration, ulceration, burns, blisters, rashes, and allergic contact dematitis1-9.  Patients report that such casts itch, develop an odor, and are difficult to keep dry.  Plaster of paris casts break down if patients inadvertently get them wet.  Although fiberglass casts with stockinette and cast padding allow patients to bathe and swim, the casts require drying procedures, for example, using a hair dryer.  Maceration and odor often develop when damp areas remain beneath the cast.

Waterproof cast liner made of Gore Tex (W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, Arizona) is available in 2-, 3-, and 4-inch rolls.In waterproof cast construction, a waterproof cast liner, made of Gore Tex (W.L. Gore and Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, Arizona), replaces the traditional stockinette and cast padding.  The material for constructing the liner is available in 2-, 3-and 4-inch rolls (figure 1).   Fiberglass casting tape is wrapped around the waterproof liner.  The liner material is designed to repel liquid water but permit evaporation, allowing bathing, swimming, hydrotherapy, and sweating without any special drying procedures for the skin or cast10.  The purpose of this prospective study is to evaluate the comfort, practicality, and possible side effects of the waterproof cast liner.

END OF ABSTRACT OF REPORT

 

Back to Publishings List.