title: Soak the cast off.
abstract: Plaster of Paris cast is still the most common form of external splintage used in orthopaedics. It is usually removed by cutting it with an electric oscillating saw. The noise created by this instrument and the sight of the blade can both be frightening, particularly for young children. As Plaster of Paris gets soft with water, soaking it to remove plaster in children is a good option, particularly neonates treated by serial casting for clubfeet. Our experience with this method was very encouraging. There were no failures. Most patients or parents of neonates were satisfied and happy to remove the plaster at home. Average time taken to remove the plaster was 25 minutes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nooruddin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sadruddin
authors.forename: Muhammad Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chinoy
authors.forename: Muhammad Imran
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Javed
mesh_terms: D002133:Calcium Sulfate; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004863:Equinus Deformity / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002133:Calcium Sulfate