Plaster cast burns: the reality.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Plaster casts are commonly used for fracture immobilization.
• The temperature generated during plaster setting is a potential concern for patient safety.
• Understanding cast temperatures is crucial for preventing thermal injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the in vivo temperatures produced by setting plaster casts.
• To determine if cast temperature poses a burn risk to patients.
• To compare temperatures generated using hot versus cold water.

Main Methods:

• An in vivo experimental study was conducted.
• Temperatures of setting plaster casts were measured.
• Casts were applied to forearm, below-knee, and lower limb cylinder locations.
• Hot and cold water were used for cast application.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant difference in temperatures was observed between hot and cold water use.
• Forearm and below-knee casts did not reach temperatures posing a burn risk.
• Lower limb cylinder casts reached potentially burn-inducing temperatures when using hot water.
• The duration of high temperatures in lower limb casts was insufficient to cause clinical burns.

Conclusions:

• While some plaster casts can reach high temperatures, the risk of thermal injury is generally low.
• Careful monitoring and appropriate water temperature selection are important during cast application.
• Further research could explore alternative casting materials or cooling methods.