Precut Cast: An Easier and Less Stressful Cast Removal Procedure for Pediatric Patients

Abstract

SUMMARY:. During hospitalization, pediatric patients or their parents may feel stressed. If patients need to stay in the hospital with a cast, they are prone to feeling more stressed. Fixation using a cast is an important clinical option, particularly in the case of skin grafts wherein fixation of the foot and ankle is essential to ensure the survival of the graft skin. However, the removal of the cast is also stressful for patients because it needs to be removed with a cast saw. To avoid further stress in pediatric patients, we cut the cast intraoperatively and then fixed the cast again using nylon cable ties. One week after surgery, we separated the patient’s cast. Instead of using a cast saw, we used only scissors or nippers. Our cast removal method was easy, safe, and less stressful.