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PubMed2001

Acutrak screw fixation versus cast immobilisation for undisplaced scaphoid waist fractures.

Fifty-three patients with less than 14 day-old, undisplaced fractures of the waist of the scaphoid were randomized to two groups. Twenty-eight patients were treated by immobilisation in a below elbow plaster cast for 10 weeks while 25 were treated by percutaneous insertion of an Acutrak standard screw. There were no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups with regard to either the rate of union or the time to union. Patients who underwent surgery had a significantly better range of motion at 16 weeks but there were no significant differences for grip strength. Acute percutaneous internal fixation of undisplaced scaphoid waist fractures using the Acutrak screw allows early mobilisation without adverse effects on fracture healing.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Knee motion in a long leg cast.

Five principles to reestablish static ligamentous stability are introduced, including secure, temporary, tibiofemoral fixation to protect against early postoperative stretch or disruption. The necessity for emphasizing this point is demonstrated by a cadaver study. Knee motion in and out of long leg plaster casts was carefully studied in necropsy specimens. Casts applied over minimal or no padding allowed significant varus-valgus, anterior, posterior, and rotatory motion at the knee when manipulated manually. Medial opening to valgus stress ranged from 64 to 100% after casting as compared to the amount of instability present prior to casting. Legs with normally contoured thighs were not protected against anterior instability after casting, and an average of 48% of precasting rotational instability remained after casting. We believe that these results are relevant to much knee ligament surgery. Current means for solving the problems posed by cast immobilization alone, including case examples, are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Flexion contractures of the knee following poliomyelitis.

Contractures of the knee after poliomyelitis are common in children in developing countries and treatment, particularly that of severe contractures, presents a surgical challenge. This paper describes a new method for correcting contractures of the knee. Mild contractures need manipulation only and a plaster cast. Moderate contractures are treated by a partial soft-tissue release of the hamstrings and fascia lata followed by gradual stretching of the remaining soft-tissues by manipulation and plaster. Where the contracture is severe, skeletal traction is used through Steinmans pins inserted into the tibia and os calcis. One hundred and thirty-six knees with varying degrees of contracture were treated by these methods. Full correction was achieved and then maintained by plaster immobilisation, physiotherapy and calipers. This prevented recurrence during an average follow-up period of two and a half years. The severity of the contracture of the knee was in direct proportion to the severity of associated flexion-abduction contractures at the hip and equinus deformity at the ankle, the degree of muscle imbalance. All of the contractures of the hip and some of the ankle (46.8%) needed simultaneous operative correction. The basic method is technically simple, requires no special equipment and the results recommend its use particularly in developing countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Improved treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children. The "pontoon" 90-90 spica cast.

In the past 15 to 20 years, little improvement has been made in the standard treatment of femur fractures in children. Children younger than two years of age or weighing less than 30 pounds are normally treated with skin traction or immobilized in a plaster cast or both. Older or heavier children are often treated with skeletal traction, followed by early or late application of spica cast in the neutral position. A method of spica cast treatment that immobilizes the limb in the 90-90 position using a reinforced cast incorporating a distal femoral traction pin--the pontoon spica--allows for early cast application and discharge from the hospital and encourages early motion of the knee joint. A series of 23 femur fractures in 21 patients were treated with this method. This series is compared with a series of 38 fractures treated with conventional methods. The follow-up period ranged from three to 24 months. The pontoon method provided better results in control of alignment than the conventional method, with no greater discrepancy in leg lengths than generally observed after skin traction and hip spica casts. The average hospital cost reduction was 73%, or approximately $13,334. There were no major complications with the pontoon method, which is now a standard treatment for femoral fractures in children.

Casts, Surgical↗
PubMed1992

[Immobilization and early mobilization of malleolar fractures after osteosynthesis with resorbable bone screws].

71 patients with displaced ankle fracture were treated by using absorbable screws in the fixation of fractures. The follow-up time was 17 (13 to 33) months in average. The fixation devices were SR-PLLA (self-reinforced poly-L-lactide) and SR-PGA (self-reinforced polyglycolide) screws. 38 of the ankle fractures were immobilized with plaster cast and 33 ankle joints were mobilized immediately with a brace. An exact radiological result was achieved in 66 cases, insignificant displacement was observed in four cases and the result was poor in one patient. The result was classified as excellent in 62 patients, as good in eight patients and as poor in one patient. The patients treated postoperatively without plaster healed in a somewhat shorter time, but at one year check-up the differences in the clinical results were almost eliminated. Selected ankle fractures fixed with absorbable screws can be treated postoperatively with early mobilization without plaster.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Immediate mobilization gives good results in boxer's fractures with volar angulation up to 70 degrees: a prospective randomized trial comparing immediate mobilization with cast immobilization.

BACKGROUND: The management of the subcapital fracture of the fifth metacarpal bone, the boxer's fracture, is still a matter of debate. Besides the question of which rate of angulation is acceptable before a reduction becomes necessary, recommendations for further treatment of this fracture vary as well. Therefore, the aim of our study was to compare randomly and prospectively the results of an immobilization treatment for 3 weeks with cast with a functional treatment, all with accepted angulations up to 70 degrees. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 1997 and June 1998, 40 patients were randomly allocated either to treatment with an ulnar gutter plaster cast for a period of 3 weeks followed by mobilization, or a pressure bandage for 1 week and immediate mobilization within limits imposed by pain. All patients were monitored at the outpatient clinic 6 and 12 weeks after the fracture. Clinical outcome was measured by the range of motion (ROM) of the fifth metacarpal phalangeal (MCP) joint, and by interviewing the patients about their satisfaction, pain perception, return to work and hobby, and need for physiotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients with a mean age of 29 years (range 15-84) completed the required follow-up program. The mean angulation of the fracture was 39 degrees (range 15-70 degrees ). Between the two groups, no statistical differences were scored with respect to ROM, satisfaction, pain perception, return to work and hobby, and need for physiotherapy. According to a sample size calculation (power 90%, alpha 0.05, to detect 5 degrees difference in ROM), 12 patients needed to be included in each group to reach significance. CONCLUSIONS: A pressure bandage for 1 week, followed by immediate mobilization, is a sufficient alternative treatment for a boxer's fracture, if it is not angulated greater than 70 degrees and not rotated. This treatment resulted in satisfied patients who perceived no more pain and had a good ROM of the fifth MCP joint. Reduction of angulated fractures of less than 70 degrees seems not of value, with respect to ROM of the fifth MCP joint.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Orthopedic treatment of regular dorsal and dorsolumbar hyperkyphosis. New principles of active correction].

The orthopaedic treatment of hyper-kyphosis should not be unique. If the principles of treatment are different in relation with the thoracic or thoraco-lumbar localisation of the apex of the deformity, it is necessary to distinguish for the middle thoracic curve two types of patients: these in whom the kyphosis and the lordosis are balanced (the cast must diminish the lumbar lordosis and the imbalanced posterior types with a great kyphotic curve and a short compensatory lordosis which is important not to be diminish by the treatment. The principles of plaster casting are described in the two types; emphasizing on the unlucky aspect of the sternal support in the middle thoracic kyphosis and in the necessity of the thoracic modification if we wish to obtain a good result. The active expiratory reeducation is capital before and during the treatment.

Casts, Surgical↗
PubMed2002

Poor retention after closed reduction and cast immobilization of low-energy tibial shaft spiral fractures.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze retention in cast after closed reduction of low-energy two-fragment tibial shaft fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material consisted of 72 closed tibial shaft fractures AO/ ASIF type A treated with closed reduction and plaster cast. Fractures were subgrouped according to the AO/ASIF classification and the initial fracture displacement was measured. Final alignment and the frequency of operative intervention due to early loss of reduction were analyzed. RESULTS: 40% of all fractures lost reduction and were operated on. The largest subgroup was A1.2 fractures, a spiral tibial shaft fracture with a fibular fracture at another level. Out of the 28 fractures in this group 61% were converted from cast to early operative intervention. CONCLUSION: Closed reduction and cast treatment of spiral tibial shaft fractures AO/ ASIF type A1.2 had a high failure rate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

An experimental study of pressure-volume dynamics of casting materials.

Casting materials are commonly used in a trauma and post-operative setting in orthopaedic practice. Swelling after trauma or surgery is universal, hence, the importance of understanding the pressure-volume dynamics of various materials commonly used for casting. This study attempts to define the pressure response of casts made from three commonly used materials to increasing volume, using a cylindrical model cast. Plaster of Paris (PoP), rigid fibreglass and semi-rigid non-fibreglass (Softcast) were chosen for comparison. Softcast had the best compliance and rate dependency characteristics, accommodating significantly more volume of fluid compared to plaster of Paris or Rigid fibreglass material. The latter two had similar compliance. All three materials demonstrated stress-relaxation which is of advantage in reducing peak pressures for a given volume change. This study shows that the casting materials behave in a viscoelastic manner, which allows them to accommodate more volume change than would otherwise be possible. The use of semi-rigid material may be safer than other materials as far as response to swelling (volume expansion) is concerned.

Calcium Sulfate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The treatment of hip dysplasia or dislocation with Fettweis' immobilization cast].

To verify the success of the cast immobilisation in a squatting position in the treatment of dysplasia and dislocation of the hip 41 children were reviewed whereby lapses up to 13 years had to be considered. In 9 hips the cast immobilisation leaded to an unsatisfactory result so that the joints had to be revised operatively. In the remaining 48 hips 31 (65%) were cured, 15 (31%) showed a light, 2 (4%) a grave remaining dysplasia. One hip joint showed an ischemic necrosis of the femoral head which corresponds to a rate of necrosis of 2.1%. As the concerned patient was treated with spreader pants in spite of the high grade of luxation of her hip it more likely that this avascular necrosis is caused by the preceding treatment and not by the cast immobilisation itself. Factors with negative effects on the result or bad prognostic signs respectively, were poor initial findings and reluxation during cast immobilization. The start of therapy had no noticeable influence on the result. On the other hand this factor was very important for the permanence of treatment. In hips with remaining dysplasia very often a clinical hypermobility was found. A positive Trendelenburg-sign was seen in the hip with defect-healed avascular necrosis of the femoral head and furthermore in 2 other hips with evident remaining dysplasia of the acetabulum. In comparison to other methods, the cast immobilisation according to Fettweis shows a low rate of avascular necrosis of the femoral head and a forced supplementary development of the dysplastic acetabulum. Because of its wide range of indication and its small rate of complications the Fettweis plaster cast is a very reliable method for the treatment of dysplasia and dislocation of the hip in infancy and early childhood.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

External fixation or a cast for Colles' fracture.

Function and radiographic position were evaluated 2.5 years after a displaced distal radial fracture had been reduced and treated by external fixation in 40 patients as compared with immobilization in a below-the-elbow cast in 91 patients. Wrist function was better after external fixation associated with less residual displacement. The frequency of arthrosis was the same in both series. The rate of complications after external fixation was higher than after immobilization in a plaster cast, notably sensory disturbances in the thumb. This complication can probably be eliminated by modifying the surgical technique.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Study of twenty-seven paediatric patients with open tibial fracture: the role of definitive skeletal stabilisation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to review our practice of the management of open tibial fractures in children. METHODS: Twenty-seven children aged 3-15 years (mean 9.5) with open fractures of the tibia were treated with early aggressive wound debridement and lavage. Gustilo grading was used. The wounds were graded as follows: I (13 patients), II (6 patients), IIIa (3 patients), IIIb (5 patients). Open wounds were treated as appropriate, 30% of patients required a plastic surgical procedure. RESULTS: Five patients were treated by initial external fixation of the tibia; the remainder was treated by cast immobilisation. The mean period for fracture healing was 6 months (1.5-48 months). There were no cases of non-union or deep infection. The incidence of complications where external fixation was applied was significant: one malunion required osteotomy, there were 2 cases of delayed union and four cases of pin track infection. In the group treated in casts, the most significant complication was loss of reduction of the fracture (five cases), requiring conversion to external fixation in 2 and screw and wire fixation in another; the remaining cases of displaced fractures responded to re-manipulation and plaster application. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude from our results hat majority of isolated open tibial fracture in children can be treated by wound debridement and plaster cast immobilisation. There is still a role for the use of external fixation especially where there is a grossly unstable fracture or extensive soft tissue injury requiring a flap procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Thromboprophylaxis following cast immobilisation for lower limb injuries--survey of current practice in United Kingdom.

The risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is well documented in patients following cast immobilisation for injuries of lower extremities. There are no generally accepted approaches to preventing this complication and hence there remains substantial practice variation amongst surgeons regarding the use of anticoagulation measures. The present survey was conducted to investigate the current chemothromboprophylaxis practice among UK orthopaedic departments for patients immobilised with plasters for lower extremity injuries and establish any variations in practice. A telephone questionnaire survey was conducted on junior doctors (Senior House Officers and Registrars) in orthopaedic departments of 70 randomly selected hospitals in United Kingdom. This survey assessed the thromboprophylaxis practice for lower limb injuries in plaster casts. Our results show substantial variation amongst British orthopaedic surgeons in the use of chemothromboprophylaxis measures. Sixty-two percent of the departments do not use any DVT prophylaxis in this group of trauma. Furthermore, only 11.4% of the departments performed risk stratification on their patients. Ninety-nine percent of the respondents were unaware of any existing guidelines in this regard. Although the incidence of DVT in patients in plaster for lower extremity injuries is low compared to the Hip/Knee arthroplasty group, this is not insignificant. Both over and under treatment with thromboprophylaxis can have implications in terms of side effects and costs. One possible solution is to use risk stratification to identify individuals who are likely to benefit from prophylaxis. There is a substantial variation and inconsistency in practice among orthopaedic departments in United Kingdom due to a lack of clinical guidelines in this group of trauma and it remains underused even in high-risk group.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2003

The influence of working cast residual moisture and temperature on the fit of vacuum-forming athletic mouth guards.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The comfort and effectiveness of athletic mouth guards are believed to depend on their degree of fit to oral tissues. Vacuum-forming machines are simpler and less expensive than pressure-forming machines. However, it is thought that vacuum-formed mouth guards often do not exhibit adequate adaptation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cast residual moisture and temperature on the fit of athletic mouth guards made with a vacuum-forming machine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A metal master model simulating the cross section of the maxillary molar region was used to form 20 working plaster casts. The casts represented 4 (5 specimens each) conditions before the forming of the mouth guard specimens: storing in a wet environment at room temperature and storing in a dry environment at room temperature, 5 degrees C, and 40 degrees C. Mouth guard specimens were fabricated with ethylene vinyl acetate sheets (3.8-mm thick) with the use of a vacuum-forming machine. Test casts were created by pouring hand-mixed type III dental stone into each of the mouth guard specimens. The differences in the sagittal cross-sectional heights at the line angle area of the test casts and the working casts were compared. This was achieved by superimposing their 3-dimensional images scanned by a laser scanner. The air permeability was also measured for the hand-mixed stone casts under wet and dry conditions, the vacuum-mixed stone cast, and the high-strength stone specimen. This was achieved by measuring the volume of transmitted air passing through the specimen in the testing tube. One-way analysis of variance with the Scheffé post hoc test (P <.05) was applied to determine the conditions of the working cast required to achieve the best fit. RESULTS: With regard to the fit of the mouth guard specimens to the working cast, those with dry and heated working casts showed a significantly better fit than those with wet working casts (P<.05). A significantly larger volume of transmitted air was found in the dry stone specimen (P<.05) followed by the dry high-strength stone cast and then the wet stone cast. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, residual moisture in the working cast was the most critical factor in determining the fit of the mouth guard made by vacuum-forming machines. The best fit was achieved when the working cast was thoroughly dried and its surface temperature was elevated.

Air↗
PubMed1982

Multidirectional in vivo strain analysis of the equine radius and tibia during dynamic loading with and without a cast.

Rosette strain gauges were applied to the equine radius and tibia. Three sites were examined on each bone on separate occasions (proximal metaphysis, middiaphysis, and distal metaphysis). At each site, 4 rosette gauges were applied around the bone (ie, cranial, caudal, medial, and lateral). Strain recordings were made while walking the horse with and without a full-limb plaster cast. The principal axis of tensile strain was on the craniolateral aspect of the radius. Distally, on the radius, the largest strains were torsional. The cast changed the principal axis of tensile strain on the radius from the craniolateral surface to the caudal surface. The principal tensile strain of the tibia was just to the lateral side of cranial in the proximal and diaphyseal regions. Distally, the principal axis of tensile strain was craniolateral; however, the largest strains measured here were torsional. The cast changed the principal axis of tensile strain on the distal metaphysis of the tibia, but it did not reduce the magnitude of the strains measured. Casts may not aid stabilization of radial or tibial fractures repaired with internal fixation and may in fact place additional stress on the fracture site.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A plaster-pylon technique for below-knee amputation.

We reviewed 83 patients after below-knee amputation. In 56 with 69 amputations early management was by plaster-pylon. A plaster cast is applied in the operating room, and a pylon added one week later, after which full weight-bearing is allowed. We compared these patients with 27 who had soft bandaging. The 'healing' time was reduced from 98 days to 40 days, and there were no major complications in the plaster-pylon group. The technique is simple and cheap and can be used by paramedical staff without specialised training or equipment.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Early results of a new method of treatment for idiopathic congenital vertical talus.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of idiopathic congenital vertical talus has traditionally consisted of manipulation and application of casts followed by extensive soft-tissue releases. However, this treatment is often followed by severe stiffness of the foot and other complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new method of manipulation and cast immobilization, based on principles used by Ponseti for the treatment of clubfoot deformity, followed by pinning of the talonavicular joint and percutaneous tenotomy of the Achilles tendon in patients with idiopathic congenital vertical talus. METHODS: The cases of eleven consecutive patients who had a total of nineteen feet with an idiopathic congenital vertical talus deformity were retrospectively reviewed at a minimum of two years following treatment with serial manipulations and casts followed by limited surgery consisting of percutaneous Achilles tenotomy (all nineteen feet), fractional lengthening of the anterior tibial tendon (two) or the peroneal brevis tendon (one), and percutaneous pin fixation of the talonavicular joint (twelve). The principles of manipulation and application of the plaster casts were similar to those used by Ponseti to correct a clubfoot deformity, but the forces were applied in the opposite direction. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically at the time of presentation, immediately postoperatively, and at the time of the latest follow-up. Radiographic measurements obtained at these times were compared. In addition, the radiographic data at the final evaluation were compared with normal values for an individual of the same age as the patient. RESULTS: Initial correction was obtained both clinically and radiographically in all nineteen feet. A mean of five casts was required for correction. No patient underwent extensive surgical releases. At the final evaluation, the mean ankle dorsiflexion was 25 degrees and the mean plantar flexion was 33 degrees . Dorsal subluxation of the navicular recurred in three patients, none of whom had had pin fixation of the talonavicular joint. At the time of the latest follow-up, there was a significant improvement (p < 0.0001) in all of the measured radiographic parameters compared with the pretreatment values, and all of the measured angles were within normal values for the patient's age. CONCLUSIONS: Serial manipulation and cast immobilization followed by talonavicular pin fixation and percutaneous tenotomy of the Achilles tendon provides excellent results, in terms of the clinical appearance of the foot, foot function, and deformity correction as measured radiographically at a minimum two years, in patients with idiopathic congenital vertical talus.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed2001

Effect of altered physical loading on bone and muscle in the forearm.

Cast immobilization of injured forearms is common clinical practice yet little is known about the effect of reduced skeletal loading in the absence of pathology. This study reports the changes in the forearms of nine healthy young adults owing to six weeks in a plaster cast followed by 1 year of either habitual activity or a strengthening program. Both groups exhibited similar patterns of change in wrist mobility, forearm muscle strength, and bone variables. Because of small sample size and poor compliance with the exercise protocol, no conclusions can be drawn about the effect of exercise. In all subjects, reduced loading caused a decrease in wrist mobility (p < 0.02) and grip strength (p = 0.01) with full recovery following 3 months of remobilization. Six months after removing the cast, bone size was reduced in the middle region of the radius (p = 0.02) and recovered after 1 year of remobilization. Given that radial bone mass tended to decrease while bone density was unchanged, we conclude that the effect of casting was modulated by changes in gross bone morphology rather than in material characteristics.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗