Alternatives to Traditional Cast Immobilization in Pediatric Patients.

Alternatives to Traditional Cast Immobilization in Pediatric Patients. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019 Jul 08;: Authors: Shirley ED, Maguire KJ, Mantica AL, Kruse RW Abstract Casts are commonly used for fracture management and postoperative immobilization in pediatric patients. However, cast immobilization is not without complications (eg, thermal injuries, pressure sores, infection, and neurovascular injury) and may be associated with additional costs and increased loss of school/work days for cast removal or other complications. The disadvantages of traditional casting can be minimized by alternative management strategies: waterproof casts to facilitate bathing and swimming; a Pavlik harness in infants, a single-leg spica cast, or flexible intramedullary nails to avoid complications with double-leg spica casts for femur fractures; and braces or splints to manage buckle and minimally displaced distal radius fractures, toddler's fractures, and stable foot/ankle fractures. PMID: 31290757 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: J Am Acad Orthop Surg Source Type: research