Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Pressure generation beneath a new thermoplastic cast

L R Mohler1, R A Pedowitz, T P Byrne

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Diego, USA.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|January 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

A novel thermoplastic cast immobilizer shows comparable safety to traditional fiberglass casts. This new cast material does not increase the risk of circulatory compromise, even with limb swelling.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Lower body negative pressure treadmill exercise is more comfortable and produces similar physiological responses as weighted vest exercise.

International journal of sports medicine·2006
Same author

Bilateral compartment syndrome of the leg complicating tetanus infection.

Orthopedics·2001
Same author

Disorders of the thumb sesamoids.

Hand clinics·2001
Same author

Staphylococcus aureus thigh pyomyositis in a collegiate swimmer.

Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine·2000
Same author

Intermittent reperfusion fails to prevent posttourniquet neurapraxia.

The Journal of hand surgery·1999
Same author

Effects of tourniquet compression on neuromuscular function.

Clinical orthopaedics and related research·1999

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Traditional fiberglass casts can exert significant pressure on injured extremities.
  • High pressure beneath casts can lead to microcirculatory compromise and complications like compartment syndrome.
  • Novel cast materials are being developed to improve patient outcomes and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare sub-cast pressures between a new thermoplastic cast immobilizer and conventional fiberglass casts.
  • To evaluate the safety profile of the thermoplastic cast in laboratory models and human subjects.
  • To determine if the thermoplastic cast poses a higher risk of circulatory compromise than fiberglass casts.

Main Methods:

  • Sub-cast pressures were measured using a laboratory model with metal cylinders of varying sizes.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Pressures were also measured beneath casts applied to the forearms of healthy human volunteers.
  • Thermoplastic and fiberglass casts were applied and pressure measurements were recorded.

    • Main Results:

    • Fiberglass casts on metal cylinders averaged 36 mm Hg.
    • Thermoplastic casts showed variable pressures (25-39 mm Hg) depending on shrinkage, compared to fiberglass (22 mm Hg) on human volunteers.
    • Measured pressures under both cast types were below levels known to occlude skin microcirculation.

    Conclusions:

    • The new thermoplastic cast immobilizer demonstrated sub-cast pressures comparable to fiberglass casts.
    • The thermoplastic cast is unlikely to increase the risk of circulatory compromise compared to fiberglass materials.
    • This finding is significant for managing patients with potential limb swelling under cast immobilization.