Orthopedic Care and Consultation
Scaphoid cast is a special cast which is applied below elbow and immobilizes the first metacarpo-phalangeal joint [thumb]. Conventionally, the cast has been applied to scaphoid fractures and was considered standard non operative treament for the fracture.
Only recently, it has been shown that a Colles cast is equally effective in scaphoid fractures.
Here is nice video on application of scaphoid cast. [Read more...]
Colles cast is a cast used for treatment of Colles fracture and other wrist fractures like scaphoid fracture. Here is a nice video on application of Colles cast
If the video is giving you problems, it can be viewed here also.
http://www.medclip.com/index.php?page=videos§ion=view&vid_id=104214
Casts for scoliosis are now rarely used because modern instrumentation. The technique is as follows
Canale & Beaty: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics, 11th ed.
Plater casts or commonly called as POP casts have been used in orthopaedics for immobilisation of the limbs and spine. Above knee cast spans from metacarpal heads in foot to lower two thirds of the thigh.
Above Knee Plaster of Paris Cast
An Example of Below Elbow Plaster Splint
Below elbow splint is commonly applied for many injuries of forearm and wrist. Theextent of this splint is from just below the olecronon tip to level of knuckles on the posterior aspect and 3-5 cm below flexion crease of elbow to level of mid palmar creas eon the volar aspect.
Functional bracing of fractures of long bones was first introduced in the late 1960s. This method was quite popular during that period following Sarmiento’s work on this. This technique was based on the proposition that freedom of motion of the knee joint and early weight-bearing ambulation could be introduced during treatment of tibial fractures without increasing shortening of the limb or interfering with fracture healing.
Early success led to the development of an orthosis similar in design that permitted freedom of motion of the ankle and knee joint. The system was expanded to include some diaphyseal fractures of the femoral shaft and fractures of the upper limbs following the success in tibial fractures.
The principle of the treatment by fracture bracing is to allow early mobilization with help of a brace that does not hamper function after the fracture has started glueing. The initial cast is removed within two weeks and the limb is put in functional brace. [Read more...]
Cast syndrome is an uncommon complication in the treatment of orthopaedic conditions. It results from obstruction of third portion of the duodenum by superior mesenteric artery leading to high intestinal obstruction. It should be kept in mind that this obstruction can occur in absence of plaster also because there are many causes to mesentric artery obstruction.
Most cases involve young adults with more than half of these cases have patients with scoliosis or kyphosis or treatment of hip condtions. It has been seen after casting with body jackets, shoulder spicas, and hip spicas where the common denominator is exten¬sive coverage of the abdomen and chest.
The problem usually is located at the junction of the third and fourth parts of the duodenum, where the duodenum is bound by the ligament of Treitz. The duodenum passes across the anterior aspect of the lumbar spine from right to left at the level of the first and second lumbar vertebrae. Just above this point, the superior mesenteric artery arises from the abdominal aorta and passes downward with its ac¬companying veins in the mesentery. [Read more...]
The picture in example is of leg of 18 years old boy who had been treated for fracture tibia with plaster cast application. When plaster was opened after two weeks for relentless pain in the limb.
The patient’s limb was kept on Bohler Braun splint and put on calcaneal pin traction.
The fracture healed uneventfully.
Note: Plaster sore is a common complication of the plaster cast application. To minimize the complication, the plaster should be well applied and patient should be instructed to report immediately for any severe pain.
Plaster of Paris takes its name from Paris, France, where it was first widely used chemically, surgically and constructionally. However, one of the earliest surgical uses was recorded in 1852 when A. Mathyson, a Dutch Army Surgeon, rubbed powdered plaster into cotton bandages to form splints. [Read more...]
Plaster cast removal is a procedure in itself. The procedure involves risk of injury to patient and should be done with utmost care. Following equipments are necessary for removing a cast
Join Discussions