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General  Casting  Information  and  Instructions  for  a  Hock-­‐Paw  Orthosis • How much of the Hind limb do I need to cast?

o Begin casting from the stifle (knee) joint. o End your cast by including the entire paw.

• Before I apply the casting material, do I wrap the limb with cast padding, multiple layers of stockinet, or roll of elastic self adhesive bandages to protect the limb?

o NO! Make sure that you use the Glad brand "Press-n-Seal" or Clingfilm plastic wrap between the patient’s limb and the casting material to minimize any distortion of the limb contours.

This is similar to the old Saran wrap. However, the new "Press-N-Seal" plastic wrap has a tacky backing to it.

The tacky backing will allow you to compress down the fur to expose bony landmarks.

It will also ensure that the plastic wrap stays in place for you during your casting procedure.

o In an emergency, you could use a single layer of stockinet providing you can ensure that stockinet can be held up and not slip downward. However, special attention will need to be given that you can create a smooth, well fused cast.

• Do I make a thick Bi-Valved Cast like mold and use a CAST SAW to cut the cast in order to remove it from the limb?

o NO!!! The mold you will make in this case will be AT MOST 2 LAYERS thick with fiberglass casting material. Then, you can simply cut down the front (cranial) aspect of the limb and slide the cast off utilizing an OrthoPets cutting strip.

Your well fused fiberglass cast will retain its shape and define bony landmarks better this way than a Bi-Valved cast would otherwise.

o If you have an OrthoPets casting kit, you will place the yellow rubber cut strip down the front (cranial) aspect of the limb. If you don't have an OrthoPets casting kit, you could substitute the cut strip with a 1/4" surgical tubing or drip line. This will serve the same function and ensure that the limb is protected from your desired cutting tool.

o As you do not have any cast padding or stockinet, the cut strip or tube will provide a place to cut the cast off the limb without coming into contact with the patient’s skin.

• Does the animal usually get sedated for the casting?

o OrthoPets does not sedate any patients.

o It will take me approximately 3-6 minutes to complete the casting process depending on skill level.

 

 

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Specific  Casting  Instructions

I have stated several times about the thickness of the cast and method used to make the cast. These two points are what will make this project successful or not. The quality of the mold OrthoPets receives from you will in-part determine the fit and function of the device OrthoPets fabricates. Please call our offices (+44 (0)1453 811930) with any questions before you proceed.

1. Begin by wrapping the affected limb with “Press-N-Seal” or Clingfilm plastic wrap. Present the plastic wrap from the stifle (knee) joint down and include the paw. This will ensure that you have the limb protected from the fiberglass.

2. Tape the OrthoPets provided Cut Strip, or your ¼” rubber tube on the front (cranial) aspect of the limb.

• Ensure the cut strip or rubber tube presents above the level of the stifle (knee) joint and extends below the paw.

3. Put on rubber gloves. Remove casting material from pouch, submerse in room temperature water for 5-8 seconds, gently squeezing material to ensure complete water saturation. Remove roll from water and gently squeeze out excess water.

4. Begin by wrapping the casting material 2 times around the limb just below the stifle (knee) joint.

5. Spiral wrap casting material down the limb being careful to only overlap 1/2 of the previous layer. CAUTION! DO NOT WRAP MORE THAN 2 LAYERS THICK! THIS CAN MAKE THE CAST VERY DIFFICULT TO CUT OFF AND REMOVE!  

• This technique will create the 2 layer thick mold that will fuse well together and better define bony landmarks without getting overly thick and difficult to cut off. Remember you are making a “copy” of the limb.

• Be careful not to wrap to tightly and compress soft tissue

6. Continue wrapping down the limb and end by including the paw.

• Be cautious not to bind the width of the paw. Under normal weight bearing, the paw spreads and increases in width.

7. Cut any excess casting material off and discard.

8. Rub the layers of casting material together.

• This ensures that the layers are bonding together and ensuring that the casting material is conforming around any bony landmarks.

9. Position the Hock (Ankle) joint in a normal standing alignment.

10. While holding just above the paw, lift up the paw and toes into a normal standing angle.

• Hold this paw position while cast is hardening.

• Apply a compressive force on the top and bottom surface of the paw to ensure you are expanding the width of the paw to simulate normal expansion during weight-bearing activities.

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11. Spend additional time rubbing the casting material around the following areas:

• (Veterinarian) Press and identify the bony anatomy globally around the Hock joint including the distal shafts of the Tibia/Fibula, the Medial/Lateral Malleoli, the Calcaneus & the Calcaneal Tendon, and the base of the Metatarsals. Apply a compressive Cranial/Caudal force at the distal aspect of the metatarsals to expand the Medial/Lateral width.

• (Owner) Press and identify the bony regions around the front, back, and both inside and outside of the hock (Ankle) joint. You will feel many prominent bone structures. Simply rub the casting material around those sites to ensure proper molding.    Apply  a  compresive  squeeze  force  above  paw  from  the  front  and  back  of  leg  (Shown  to  left  by  Red  Arrow)

12. Once the casting material has hardened (3-4 minutes), you will prepare to cut through the fiberglass casting material over the cut strip or rubber tube.  

If you have an OrthoPets casting kit, you will utilize the hook blade.

Start a 1" cut at the top of the mold with the bandage scissors.

Then simply "pull" the hook blade down the cut strip. The blade will easily and smoothly cut the hardened fiberglass cast. You many apply a small gentle “wiggle” movement of the hook blade if you feel resistance during this process.

13. If you use a rubber tube, use your preferred cutting tool to cut cast such as a Cast Saw or other.

14. Remove the yellow cut strip or rubber tube.

15. Next, using bandage scissors, cut through the plastic wrap.

16. Remove cast off the limb. Then remove the plastic wrap and tape from cast.

17. Lastly, immediately tape the cast back together to allow the material to completely cure without losing any if the shape.

18. Write the patient’s first and last name, Left or Right side, and date on cast.

It may seem like a difficult process, but you will find that by making a well fused thin cast, the process will only take a few minutes and will turn out great!

You  will  find  a  Photo  Illustration  of  this  casting  process  on  pages  4  &  5  

 

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Preparing and Casting the Limb

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Correcting, Positioning, Identify bony landmarks, and Holding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1 Step 2 Step 4 Step 5 Step 7

Step 9

Step 10

Step 11

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Cutting the Cast and Plastic wrap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Removing the Cast from Limb and Plastic wrap from Cast

 

 

 

Step 12 Step 12 Step 12 Step 13 Step 14

Step 15 Step 15 Step 15