A novel nontoxic wood-plastic composite cast

Abstract

Casting is one of the oldest methods in fracture treatment, yet shortcomings and problems with current materials are still clear. Here a novel composite casting material is presented. The material is thermoplastic, nontoxic, absolutely freely moldable in 3D, and does not disturb X-ray analysis. After heating to +62-64 °C, the material can be cut with a normal pair of scissors and can be shaped to suit individual anatomy. We also report the first clinical series of 33 wrist fractures treated with this wood-polymer composite material. The clinical results revealed that the cast is stable and highly durable, but still offers exceptional X-ray- radiolucent properties. The average casting time was 5.3 min. Patient satisfaction was high, mainly due to the stability and the lightweight structure of the cast. The feedback from experienced orthopedic technicians was excellent. © Lindfors and Salo.