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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Treatment of isolated distal ulnar shaft fractures with below-elbow plaster cast. A prospective study.

In a prospective study 52 patients with an isolated fracture of the distal ulna were treated with a below-elbow plaster cast. The histories of 46 patients were reviewed after a mean follow-up of 3.5 years (ranging from 10 months to 7 years). Forty-three fractures united. There were two non-unions. One fracture displaced while in the plaster, so that there was no longer any bone contact between the fragments. The fracture was consequently treated by open reduction and internal fixation. The type of fracture, the initial displacement (all fractures had bone contact) or the initial angulation (maximum 10 deg) was not found to influence the final clinical results. Below-elbow plaster cast appeared to produce satisfactory results in 89% of the patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The transfixational plaster cast technique.

Unstable fractures of the forearm and leg as well as combined fractures of the arm and forearm are often difficult to treat adequately by closed reduction and plaster fixation. In tropical countries, however, open reduction is relatively contra-indicated because of increased risk of peri-operative infection, inadequate training of medical personnel, and lack of adequate equipment. Given these conditions, the use of the transfixational plaster cast offers an alternative which is simple, inexpensive, and with few complications. The principle and technique of the transfixational plaster cast are presented.

Bone Wires↗
PubMed2004

Occupational asthma after exposure to plaster casts containing methylene diphenyl diisocyanate.

BACKGROUND: The case of a 34-year-old female nurse is presented. She worked in an accident and emergency department in a district general hospital, with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)-containing synthetic plaster casts. She worked with MDI on a daily basis for 4 years. She was out of the department for 1 year and on her return developed cough, wheeze and dyspnoea within 5 min of exposure to MDI- containing synthetic casts. METHOD: A bronchial provocation test was performed and confirmed an early asthmatic response. RESULTS: There was a 39% decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s 15 min after exposure, which required the administration of a bronchodilator on two occasions. The patient has subsequently avoided MDI-containing synthetic plaster casts and has experienced no further respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates that respiratory sensitization can occur as a result of exposure to MDI-containing synthetic casts and highlights the need for vigilance when health care workers are using isocyanate-containing synthetic casts.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Anxiety reaction in children during removal of their plaster cast with a saw.

We have had experience of an 18-month-old boy with a cardiomyopathy who died a few minutes after removal of his cast with a saw, apparently from a malignant cardiac arrhythmia triggered by anxiety. We therefore examined the anxiety reaction to this method of removal of a plaster cast in 20 healthy children; ten were provided with hearing protectors and ten were not. The level of anxiety was assessed by measuring the heart rate, a known physiological indicator of anxiety, before, during and five minutes after removal of the cast. The noise level was also measured. The results showed a mean increase in heart rate during the procedure of 27.9 beats per minute (bpm) (26.9%) in the children with no hearing protectors and 10.4 bpm (11.1%) in children who used hearing protectors (p < 0.001). Five minutes after the procedure the heart rate had returned to the baseline rate in all patients. We recommend that hearing protectors should be used in children undergoing removal of a plaster cast to decrease the anxiety reaction. If possible, clinicians should avoid the use of a saw for this purpose in children with a cardiomyopathy.

Anxiety↗
PubMed2001

[Mechanical stimulation of venous blood flow in below-the-knee plaster cast].

Physical methods became recently more important as an alternative to anticoagulation for prophylaxis of thromboembolism and were studied for their efficacy. The AV-impulse-system proved efficient in reducing thromboembolic complications in patients undergoing hip surgery by increasing the return of venous blood in the deep veins of the leg. In a preclinical trial we studied the influence of the AV-impulse-system and of active forefoot movement on venous blood return in 12 lower extremities of 6 healthy individuals immobilized in below the knee plaster casts. Our results show a significant increase in venous blood flow caused by the AV-impulse-system (p < 0.05) and by active forefoot movements (p < 0.05). Prevention of thromboembolic complications in trauma and orthopaedic patients immobilized in plaster cast seems possible by using the AV-impulse-system which significantly increases the venous blood flow independent from patient compliance.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Alternative to plaster cast bandage of the thigh].

Immobilization by means of a femoral plaster-cast box cannot always cope with the wide variety and severity of the injuries and diseases in the knee-joint region. To achieve best possible rehabilitation, several alternative and subsequent methods of surgical bandaging are described, including indications, technique and pros and cons.

Bandages↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Short arm plaster cast for distal pediatric forearm fractures.

Ten years' clinical experience with below-elbow plaster cast treatment of distal one third pediatric forearm fractures was subjected to an independent retrospective radiographic review. In the study population of 761 fractures, no significant displacement occurred while the forearm remained in plaster. The average angulation change was 4.5 degrees (SD +/- 2.2 degrees). In each angulation change > 5 degrees, poor cast molding was evident, as reflected by a high "cast index" (p < 0.01). Although this technique is technically demanding, excellent results are obtained in all distal pediatric forearm fractures if proper cast molding is used.

Casts, Surgical↗
PubMed1982

Setting temperatures of plaster casts. The influence of technical variables.

It is known that plaster-of-Paris casts can cause burns. Experiments were done to determine what factors are involved in causing an elevation of the temperature in a freshly applied cast. A glass tube filled with water between the temperatures of 36 and 39 degrees Celsius was used to simulate a leg for this study. Standard plaster casts were applied to the tube and the following variables were studied: different temperatures of the dip water; different thicknesses of the cast; the presence of plaster residue in the dip water; and the effect of the plaster of a pillow placed under the tube. It was found that if the temperature of the dip water was higher than 24 degrees Celsius or the thickness of the cast was greater than eight ply, or both, and if the pillow was used to limit the dissipation of heat from the cast, temperatures high enough to cause skin burns could occasionally be reached. Variable results indicated that these were the factors operating in practice and that a combination of them posed the greatest hazard.

Burns↗
PubMed1991

[You and your plaster cast--educating for health].

The study was developed in order to give patients carrying a plaster cast orientation into self-care. The authors supported their work on pre-existing works on the same theme. They point to Education for health as a means for health professionals to prevent problems arising from misinformation to people under medical attendance.

Casts, Surgical↗
PubMed1981

Experimental investigations on the hypokinesis of skeletal muscles with different functions, VIII. Effect of plaster-cast immobilization on the contractile properties of rat skeletal muscles with different functions.

The plaster-cast immobilization of the right hind limbs of rats has been investigated. Examinations were performed on the changes in weight of both types of skeletal muscles, i.e. the fast and the slow ones, the m. extensor digitorum longus and the m. gastrocnemius on the one hand, and the m. soleus on the other. The most significant loss in weight was observed in the gastrocnemius muscle. The ATP-Ca2+-induced isometric tension as well as the speed of contraction of glycerine-treated myofibrillar preparations considerably decreased as a result of 28-day immobilization. The most marked change was observed in the soleus muscle. There was a similar decrease in the specific activity of myofibrillar myosin ATPase prepared from immobilized muscles. The specific activity of K+-EDTA myosin ATPase did not change.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1982

Energy costs of walking in lower-extremity plaster casts.

The energy cost of walking with axillary crutches and each of three types of plaster casts (long, short, and cylinder) on the lower extremity was measured in twenty normal adult men. The knee and ankle joints were immobilized unilaterally in the neutral positions. Oxygen uptake was measured using a modified Douglas-bag technique. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and step frequency were telemetered from transducers that were attached to the subjects. When walking and bearing full weight on a cast without the use of crutches, the average rates of energy expenditure for subjects wearing the three varieties of casts did not significantly differ from the value for normal walking. Velocity, however, was reduced depending on the extent of immobilization. The average velocity of the subjects was fifty-six meters per minute in a long cast, sixty-four meters per minute in in a cylinder cast, and seventy meters per minute in a short cast, compared with seventy-eight meters per minute without immobilization of the limb. The subjects' average oxygen cost per meter was 0.24 milliliter per kilogram in a long cast, 0.20 milliliter per kilogram in a cylinder cast, and 0.19 milliliter per kilogram in a short cast, compared with 0.15 milliliter per kilogram for normal walking. Using a unilateral non-weight-bearing swing-through gait, the average rate of oxygen uptake for subjects wearing the three types of casts did not differ from the mean value without a cast (21.2 milliliters per kilogram per minute). All values were at least 60 per cent higher than the average for normal level walking.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

The effect of remobilisation on the extremity of the adult rat after short-term immobilisation in a plaster cast.

The one hind leg of adult male rats was immobilised for 4 weeks in a plaster cast. The cast was then removed and the leg was subsequently remobilised for 4 and 16 weeks respectively. Studies of the skeletal mass of the femur and the tibia from the immobilised leg showed that after 4 weeks of remobilisation there were still clear signs of osteoporotic changes of the bones as compared with the corresponding bones from control non-immobilised rats. After 16 weeks of remobilisation there were no esteoporotic changes detectable by the methods used.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Effect of plaster-cast immobilization on the contractile properties of rabbit skeletal muscles of various functions.

The effect of plaster-cast immobilization was studied on the ATP-Ca++-induced contraction of glycerinated muscle fibres on myofibrillar superprecipitation and on the ATPase activity of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles obtained from rabbit hind limb. Following 28 days of immobilization the ATP-Ca++-induced tension of glycerinated muscle fibres prepared from the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles decreased significantly. Decreases in superprecipitation and in myofibrillar ATPase activity were less significant. It seems reasonable to conclude that the changes in the physiological parameters of isolated muscle fibres have been due to the alterations in the myofibrillar proteins induced by reduced activity of the muscles.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1992

[Treatment without plaster cast of intra-articular fractures of calcaneus united by means of a kirschner wire bundle].

A treatment without plaster cast is presented of intra-articular fractures of calcaneus. In nine patients after fracture reduction by the Westhues method or by operation, the fragments were united by means of divergent bundle of Kirschner wires, introduced from the side of calcaneal tuber. The obtained stabilization made possible an early rehabilitation treatment. In no case a secondary displacement of fragments occurred after removal of uniting wires. Poor result was noted only after surgical treatment complicated with osteitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Minimally displaced Colles' fractures: a prospective randomized trial of treatment with a wrist splint or a plaster cast.

Sixty-six adult patients with minimally displaced distal radial fractures were randomly assigned to treatment with either a plaster cast or a lightweight removable wrist splint. Outcome assessment was by clinical and radiological evaluation and an independent physiotherapy assessment. There were significant differences between the treatments for cast satisfaction, cast problems and the functional assessment score at 6 weeks, with the removable splint scoring better in all cases.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1987

The treatment of tibial fractures by elastic nailing and functional plaster cast.

From June 1984 to December 1985, 32 fractures of the tibia were treated by elastic nailing by the Ender method with functional plaster casts according to the Sarmiento method. They represented 28% of all tibial fractures treated during the same period by the traditional conservative method or by external fixators. Elastic nailing was reserved for unstable fractures produced by high velocity trauma. Union occurred in all cases after an average of 13 weeks. Complications were insignificant: shortening by 1.2 cm (1 case); recurvatum (1 case); varus (1 case); valgus (1 case), both less than 8 degrees, and thus within functionally insignificant limits for axial deviation. In one case, a 15 degree internal rotation deformity was corrected after 5 weeks by osteoclasis and fresh elastic nailing which also healed. The advantages of this type of treatment are rapid union and no pseudarthrosis or infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Quantification of fMRI artifact reduction by a novel plaster cast head holder.

In light of artifact-induced high variability of activation in fMRI repeat studies, we developed and tested a clinically useful plaster cast head holder (PCH) with improved immobilization, repositioning, and comfort. With PCH, there were considerably lower levels of translational and rotational head motion components compared to head fixation with conventional restraining straps (CRS). Rotational components cannot be fully compensated by realignment and lead to "false activations." In addition, task-correlated head motion, which highly increases the risk of artifacts, was considerably reduced with PCH, especially in a motion prone subject. Compared with PCH, head motion was 133% larger with CRS in a highly cooperative subject. With a motion prone subject, head motion range was increased by 769% (PCH: 0.9 mm, CRS: 7.8 mm), which may indicate the usefulness of PCH for restless patients. In functional activation maps, PCH alone yielded fewer residual motion artifacts than CRS + image registration. Subject tolerance of the head holder during the long measurement times of up to 2.5 hr was good, and slice orientation on different days confirmed the quality of repositioning.

Adult↗