Plaster substitute

Broken bones, torn ligaments, sprains, bruises and the like: They all need to be fixed, stabilized or immobilized. Usually this still happens today with a plaster cast. However, there are now too Plaster substitute. However, this also has advantages and disadvantages compared to ordinary plaster.

What is a plaster of paris substitute?

Like a normal cast, the cast substitute always aims to fix an injury, to stabilize it or to immobilize the affected part of the body. There are many types of injuries that need to be treated with a cast. Likewise, the possible body parts and areas of the body on which a plaster of paris substitute can be used for various treatment purposes also place different demands on them. That is why not all plaster substitutes are the same: Depending on the intended use and treatment, it can differ in its nature and application.

The advantage of the modern plaster substitute is that it is now represented in a great number of types and designs. Among other things, this has the great advantage that it can often be adapted more flexibly to the injury and to the body part to be treated than ordinary plaster of paris.

Shapes, types & types

Plaster of paris is a collective term that arises from the fact that all types of fixation and stabilization that fall into it can also fulfill the function of an ordinary plaster cast.

In addition to this, types of plaster of paris, such as plastic plaster casts (also called cast) or a wide variety of splint systems, also have different advantages compared to a normal plaster cast. Some of these are lighter and more comfortable to wear, such as plastic plaster. Often the plaster substitute is easier to apply and remove. The latter is particularly true of many modern rail systems, such as the Aircast rail. This can even be removed by the patient at home, for example when showering, and reattached later.

The advantages of plaster of paris are usually obvious: They are lighter in weight, can usually be loaded earlier or even immediately, can be removed more quickly and easily, and are more comfortable to wear.

In addition to disadvantages such as the higher costs that a modern plaster of paris substitute often entails, it often lags behind the actual plaster of paris with a view to its stabilizing and fixing function. For this reason, many injuries are still treated with a standard cast in the first few days when properly stabilizing the injury is a priority. Only later will this be replaced by a plaster of paris for the sake of patient comfort.

Structure & functionality

Plaster of paris is usually divided into two different types. On the one hand there is the plastic plaster, with which, as with the common plaster of paris, fractures and fractures of the bones and joints can be fixed. On the other hand, there are splint systems with which, among other things, sprains, torn ligaments and similar injuries can be immobilized and stabilized like a plaster splint. Depending on what type of plaster substitute it is, their structure and functionality also differ from one another.

Plastic plaster or a cast bandage is a plaster-like bandage that is much lighter than plaster of paris and yet hardens due to being moistened with water and thus ensures a high level of stabilization. Today a cast bandage consists of glass fibers, synthetic resin or polyester. These harden very quickly after being moistened and are also stronger and therefore more resilient than ordinary plaster of paris. A disadvantage are the higher costs and the higher environmental impact that they represent due to their composition. A better known and more popular name for a cast bandage is walking cast.

Rail systems, such as the Aircast rail already mentioned, usually consist of plastic rails that stabilize the foot, laterally, from the front, from the back or the foot as a whole, as required. They are padded with air or foam and held together with Velcro or tension fasteners.

Another modern type of splint are so-called orthotics. With these, whole body parts (such as legs) can be stabilized and fixed in such a way that the movement function is maintained or prevented.

Medical & health benefits

Plaster of paris basically fulfills the same task that a plaster cast has fulfilled since the mid-19th century: Depending on the type of injury, it should stabilize, fix or immobilize it and thus support healing. However, as with the usual plaster cast, risks such as an increased risk of thrombosis or the risk of joint stiffening due to prolonged immobilization of the injured limb also arise during treatment.

However, the different types of plaster of paris can reduce this risk, for example by being more resilient than plaster of paris and thus making a reasonably functional mobility possible. Nevertheless, the affected body parts must not be stressed beyond the extent recommended by a doctor. This can negatively affect healing and in the worst case even lead to long-term effects. However, if prescribed accordingly, the injured part should be carefully stressed, also to prevent the muscle mass from receding and poor blood flow to the nerve tracts and tissue.