Guest guest Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 Someone else said Ponseti uses plaster so plaster is our first choice in casting materials, and I couldn't agree more. The plaster isn't so heavy that an alternative is necessary. Nor is a new born rough enough on the casts to need the durability of fiberglass. Sometimes when an older child is casted, a layer of fiberglass is put over the plaster for durability but an infant wouldn't need that either. Another consideration is fiberglass will need cut off with a cast saw; plaster can be soaked and cut off with a pair of scissors. (If you look at the photos section under ee's Soggy Bottom Boys, you'll see us cutting casts off my son at 5 weeks old with just a small pair of scissors). Some people don't mind the cast saw, but babies hate it and when you have a screaming fighting baby it is possible the saw will burn their leg by cutting too deep. This whole method - the Ponseti Method - is grounded in it's gentle treatment and minimum stress to the infant. A cast saw kind of blows that out of the water in my opinion. If we knew where you lived we might be able to steer you to another doctor for a 2nd opinion, let you pick which one you like better. When my 2 year old had to be recasted (long story short here) he had plaster with a fiberglass over lay. Eventually he broke through the fiberglass and I had to patch it at the knees and heels. The fiberglass I used did dry rather quickly. I believe it would take a very skilled and experienced doctor to manipulate the foot correctly before the fiberglass dries too hard. With my own experience " casting " his leg to patch the holes I can see where forming the material around an infants's little bones would be nearly impossible. All just food for thought as you make your decisions. Is your baby already born or did you jsut find you are expecting a cf baby? Good luck to you, ee Mother of 3 Clubfooted Sons: - Bilateral Club Feet April 1998 Everett - Bilateral Club Feet September 2003 Garrison - Bilateral Club Feet March 2006 fiberglass or plaster This is my second question,but actually my first direct one. I understand that fiberglass is quick and light, but is there anything about plaster that is so consistently great that one should demand its use in place of plaster-- which Spoonseller uses. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.8/380 - Release Date: 6/30/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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