Cut/Buffer Strip Best Practice Responses

Cut/Buffer Strip Best Practice Responses

Wilder Lafond

10/21/2015

Thank you all for the responses to the question about cast removal methods - specifically cast saw alternatives and/or cut/buffer strips. It seems many have eliminated cast saw use in most patient encounters & they report success with a combination of Cascade DAFO's Channel Buffer Strips with a guarded or hooked blade. The quantity of results are below:


BARRIERS:

Cascade DAFO Channel Buffer Strips-8

Plastic Tube-1

Latex Surgical Tubing-2

Theratubing-1

Vibram Strips-1

Plastic Strips (cut from sheet material in office or from manufacturer) -3

Strip of Felt-1

Aluminum Roofer's Flashing-1


CUTTING DEVICE:

Hook Blade-4

Dulled non-Hooked Blade-1

ST&G or Klean Cutter Guarded Blade-6

Cast Scissors-2

Cast Saw-2


One response was difficult to place into the table above and seemed to warrant a direct quote:

These are the 2 methods I used for safe cast removal.

For plaster casts, I create a channel using a trough shaped cutting strip like the one from Cascade DAFO and surgical tubing. I lubricate the surgical tubing and lay it into the trough before applying the plaster. For removal, I pull out the tube, leaving the strip to act as a buffer for the scissors. The cast can then be easily removed using cast scissors.


At least one response recommended use of cast saw with Cascade Buffer Strip, but the packaging warns against this.


Thank you all for your time!


Wilder LaFond, CPO
CarePartners HealthServices
Orthotics & Prosthetics Director
1 Doctors Drive, Asheville, NC 28801
[ph] 828.254.3392, [fax] 828.254.4380

[ <URL Redacted>


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This message and its attachments may contain confidential and/or legally-sensitive information that is intended for the sole use of the addressee(s). Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution of the information contained in this message and its attachments is prohibited. If you have received this message or any of its attachments in error, please destroy all originals and copies of the same and notify the sender immediately.