Correlation between experience in plaster-cast application and weight of plaster of Paris

Heavy casts may be associated with burns at application and burns and abrasions and anxiety reaction on removal. This study examined the correlation between resident experience in plaster-cast application and weight and thickness of the casts. Ten residents with different durations of experience applied an above-elbow plaster cast to the lead author. Temperature below the cast was measured. The cast was then removed, and weight and thickness were measured. Measurements were repeated 3 days later. Cast weights ranged from 510 to 1,070 g. The heaviest casts were applied by the least experienced residents (6 months to <3 years). Thickness was often uneven, with the thickest parts being at the elbow. There was no relationship between skin temperature and cast thickness. Orthopedic training programs should direct more attention to cast application technique.