Safety and Efficacy of Casting During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison of the Mechanical Properties of Polymers Used for 3D Printing to Conventional Materials Used for the Generation of Orthopaedic Orthoses
نویسندگان
1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 4 Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Hand Surgery Division, Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
3 Orthopedic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Hand Surgery Division, Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
4 Orthopedic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Hand Surgery Division, Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
5 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 3 Chief of Hand Surgery Division, Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
doi
10.22038/abjs.2020.44038.2204چکیده
To reduce the risk of spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the emerging protocols are advising for less physicianpatientcontact, shortening the contact time, and keeping a safe distance. It is recommended that unnecessary castingbe avoided in the events that alternative methods can be applied such as in stable ankle fractures, and hindfoot/midfoot/forefoot injuries. Fiberglass casts are suboptimal because they require a follow up for cast removal while aconventional plaster cast is amenable to self-removal by submerging in water and cutting the cotton bandages withscissors. At present, only fiberglass casts are widely available to allow waterproof casting. To reduce the contact timeduring casting, a custom-made 3D printed casts/splints can be ordered remotely which reduces the number of visitsand shortens the contact time while it allows for self-removal by the patient. The cast is printed after the limb is 3Dscanned in 5-10 seconds using the commercially available 3D scanners. In contrast to the conventional casting, a 3Dprinted cast/splint is washable which is an advantage during an infectious crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.Level of evidence: V
