More careful - and / or less breakable... :)

I just want to reassure you that it wasn't a dumb question in any way. If you haven't needed a cast before you can't be expected to know how awful they are. If it's any more reassuring, the thermoplastic cast pictured above is a product is pretty much the latest, and greatest, so there would be many that work in orthopaedics who would have no idea of its existence. Plus even the nurse/doctor who made the one above isn't overly familiar with the product yet, or they wouldn't have made half of it upside down (the zip on the calf section is upside down, and it's not supposed to be).

What made you decide I was being condescending?

The one above is more of a bridge between a cast and the moon boot stage of healing. So it unfortunately wouldn't have saved you from the full four months, but might have saved you from the most of the fourth. But at least it's not a moon boot, and it can be washed, just not under hot water.

Why not just tie a garbage bage around it to keep it dry while you shower/bathe?

That makes sense. I was just thinking in terms of not wanting to cut it off every time you normally would (which is mostly for x-rays in my limited experience) which of course you address.

The ones with the zipper closure are slightly newer. They also make more solid sheets with far smaller ventilation holes, in different thicknesses, for when more support is needed. They are able to be made into a solid tube similar, to a traditional cast. The thermoplastic material is actually designed to be able to adhere to itself, but the sheets have a film so that you are able shape it prior. They can also be endlessly adjusted after the initial shaping with a heat gun as the needs of the cast or splint change. When they aren't required to be a solid tube (or the zippered kind), strips of Velcro are attached to either side of the gap, thick pieces of fabric covered neoprene are used to keep it in place. Even though it doesn't sound overly secure, with the precision of the shaping process of thermoplastic, it's more than capable. Now that I've shared way too much info about thermoplastic casts that no one asked for; they cost more initially, but can last the entire healing process 😅

That was my original assumption too, but looking at it again, I am sure Tess is right.

Okay there are some people who are just asshats

Rebecca O’Donnell

Rebecca O’Donnell

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Lauren S, I’m glad you asked. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. This is how we get all kinds of answers, funny or otherwise. :)

Wow these comments are so dumb. This is obviously not the run of the mill cast which most ppl haven't seen and would rightfully have questions. People acting like it's not may only be proving how dim they are acting like this is a common cast revealing that they are either really dumb and/or accident prone if they've had these enough to think it's just a normal cast. Lauren I am glad you don't know everything about this cast type, proves your not a dumba$$ constantly breaking/spraining bones. Don't feel judged. Because they are the ones who are being judged as a$$h0les by the majority of us, not you! Stay safe stay smart and never be afraid to ask questions and learn things you didn't know.

You are correct, Kristi. I’ve never broken a bone or lived with anyone who has. So I’ve never had a regular plaster cast let alone this fancy schmancy one. Now my son is young, has absolutely no fear, and everything he does is all the way (if that makes sense, like passionate). I’d be shocked if we made it to 18 without a cast. I’m shocked we’ve made it to 6! So maybe I’ll be more experienced in a few years. I hope not! I’d hate to see him hurt that badly. Thanks, Kristi!

Lauren you didn't say it rude to begin with and you don't have to explain yourself to every judgy mcjudgerson on here. People are quick to be cruel and stupid instead of taking the fifteen seconds to read the rest of the comments first. I wouldn't worry about these people that are being rude to you because I'm pretty sure the rest of us know what you meant. They can go sit and spin on some pineapples

There are doctors who haven't seen these. How on earth are you supposed to know whether it's solid or flexible. I've written a small essay further up the page with as full of an explanation of thermoplastics as BP character limit allows. It wasn't a stupid question in any way whatsoever. Some people are just asshats, and it's not you.