Fiberglass cast also known as synthetic cast is a type of plastic being used in fracture treatment due to its considerable advantages. At SUNCOR, Dr. Chirag P Jain an established orthopaedic doctor believes in innovation, and fiberglass is one of the innovations that he has adopted to provide better comfort and quick healing to patients suffering from fractures. The three-layer structure of fiberglass cast provides better support and protection to broken bones as well as to joints that need stabilization, in contrast to conventional plaster.
What is the three-layer structure of fiberglass cast?
- Cotton Bandage layer: helps to absorb any moisture developed under the cast
- Stockinette layer: helps to prevent skin damage from rough edges of the fiberglass
- Fiberglass layer: helps to keep all the layers in place and thus the broken bone
What are the Benefits of Fiberglass Cast?
- Lightweight
- High durability
- Excellent water resistance
- Precise X-ray results
- Better Comfort
How Are Fiberglass Casts Applied?
The fiberglass casting application process is about 10 minutes process; however, time may vary depending upon what is being cast, wherein our orthopaedicdoctor cleans your skin with soap and water to prepare for the cast application. Stockinette is applied to the injured limb and covered with soft cotton padding to provide better cushioning. The doctor also applies special padding material under the fiberglass, when complete waterproof padding is required. At the last several layers of fiberglass casting material are applied to the padding. After the completion of the casting, it takes 10 to 15 minutes for the cast material to dry and get fully hardened, so the patient can resume his activities afterwards.
How long one can wear a fiberglass cast?
In ideal cases it can be worn for as long as 6 weeks, however, it may vary as per the nature of the injury. After 6 weeks, if you need to keep your limb immobilized, the cast needs to be replaced.
What is the process of removing fiberglass cast?
The thin and vibrating cast saw is used to cut the fiberglass cast, however as the saw used in the process is sharp and thin, it needs to be operated under doctors’ observation only, which hardly takes 15 to 20 minutes.
How to take care of fiberglass casting?
- Keep it clean and dry, it may lead to skin irritation and infection
- Do not penetrate any objects into the cast, it may damage the skin and cause infection
- Do not apply any type of lotion, oil, or powders under the cast, it may cause skin irritation
- Do not put pressure on the casting, it may damage the cast and sometimes leads to injury too.
When To See a doctor
If the skin underneath the cast causes unbearable itching or ever notices a bad odor coming out of the cast, seeking medical attention is highly recommended by the SUNCOR team. At SUNCOR, we provide 24/7orthopaedic emergency service and care, so patients can visit the SUNCOR hospital anytime they seek emergency medical help.