Fiberglass orthopedic bandage (cast)

What is a bone fracture?

Fractures of the bones of the body are among the problems that are likely to occur to every person throughout life. A bone fracture occurs when the pressure applied to the bone exceeds the strength and resistance of the bone, as a result, the bone does not resist this pressure and is accompanied by a fracture. One of the factors that affects the incidence of fractures is age. With age, the resistance and strength of the bones decrease and they become more fragile against the applied pressure. Different types of fractures, including open fractures, closed fractures, displaced fractures and non-displaced fractures, require immediate treatment.

Treatment of bone fractures

Broken bones must be put in place and repaired over time. It should be noted that fracture treatment is selected according to the type of injury, the location of the injury and the severity of the injury. For this purpose, it is necessary to prevent the movement of the injured limb through plaster casts or splints and other treatment methods so that the healing and repair process can be faster. In severe and sensitive fractures such as pelvic fractures, there is a need for surgery to keep the bones together. If in some fractures the bones are placed in their correct position without the need for surgery, this is done using a reduction operation. In surgeries to treat fractures, tools such as pins, rods, screws or cables may be used.

What is splinting?

If a body part is fractured, dislocated or injured, splinting is used to reduce the damage and keep the member stationary. For this purpose, two fixed objects such as wood or other similar equipment are placed around the injured member and the wood or fixed object is fixed in place using a bandage or cloth. The splint may be a dry splint, i.e. wood or metal plates, a traction splint, an air splint, a plastic splint, or a soft splint such as a pillow.

It is easier and faster to use a ready-made splint or splint, while a fiberglass orthopedic bandage (fiberglass plaster) can also be made according to the patient’s needs. Ready-made splints consist of connected bandages that can be removed from the limb using Velcro bandages or bandaged tightly or loosely.

What is a cast?

After a fracture or surgery, it is very important to immobilize the injured limb. Therefore, it can be used by using a cast method, which is the English equivalent of a cast. Using plaster, a firm mold is created around the injured bone, joint, or limb, preventing its movement for a while. Casting the affected area prevents muscle spasms and contractions and reduces complications from limb injury. Unlike plaster, a splint, which is a type of mold to support the injured limb tissue, covers the limb on one side and is open on the other. The size of the mold is important to keep one joint above the fracture site and one joint below the fracture site immobile.

What is the plaster used in the casting process?

Regular plaster or fiberglass plaster can be used for the casting process. Today, fiberglass plaster is often used instead of regular plaster. Below, we will examine these two types of products:

1. Regular plaster of Paris

Regular plaster or plaster of Paris is made of strong linen with starch and is generally semi-hydrated calcium sulfate. This plaster is calcined and powdered and becomes hydrated calcium sulfate when water is added to it and hardens. This reaction is an exothermic reaction, so the patient feels heat when the plaster is applied to the desired area. Ordinary plaster rings or strips are made of gauze dressing that the doctor places on the damaged area by creating the desired amount of plaster. Of course, be careful that the plaster is not placed directly on the skin, but on a cotton tape cover. The more cotton tape cover is placed on the limb, the less heat will be felt. The plaster takes about 5-10 minutes to dry in the open air.

2. Fiberglass orthopedic bandage (fiberglass plaster) or plastic plaster

Fiberglass plaster is prepared in ring molds and dries and hardens after mixing with water in 3-4 minutes. Fiberglass orthopedic bandage has more pores than ordinary plaster, so it easily passes X-rays and is suitable for radiography and imaging of damaged tissue. The waterproof exterior of this band makes it one of the most practical plastering tools. It should be noted that the drying time of fiberglass plaster is shorter compared to regular plaster, so the specialist must have sufficient skill and speed of action.

Plastering method

As mentioned, the plaster is not in direct contact with the patient’s skin. In order to prevent the plaster from directly contacting the patient’s skin and sticking to the skin hair, a stockinet or cotton tape is used. Cotton tapes are about two meters long, 10-20 cm wide, and a few millimeters thick. Sometimes, a vibril bandage with cotton fibers is used to keep the bandage soft and prevent contamination, prevent sensitivity and itching, and also to avoid direct contact of the skin with the plaster and the formation of wounds.

Depending on the injury, the affected limb becomes swollen and sometimes inflamed. In this case, if the specialist suspects that the swelling may increase, he uses more cotton tapes. The affected limb is placed in the appropriate position and the specialist mixes fiberglass plaster with water, then covers the area around the fracture with the resulting mixture. After a few minutes, the plaster will harden and can be covered. Note that twisting the plaster should not be accompanied by applying pressure and cause more damage to the limb. During the treatment period, you should be careful not to get the splint wet, because moisture will weaken and loosen the plaster, and a wet cotton strip may also cause skin problems and allergies.

Fiberglass orthopedic bandages or fiberglass plasters are more expensive than regular plasters. Therefore, buying fiberglass plasters at the most reasonable price and the best quality is very important for medical centers, especially centers accepting trauma patients. Fiberglass plasters are available in various colors such as red, green, blue, white, yellow, etc. Fiberglass plasters are produced in widths of 2, 3, 4 and 5 inches and a length of nearly 450 cm. Depending on the place of plastering and the width of the desired area, plasters of different widths are used. For example, for finger casts or for children’s limbs that are narrower than adult limbs, casts with widths of 2 and 3 can be used. Fiberglass casts with widths of 4 and 5 are suitable for large limbs, especially for adults.