Audit of patient satisfaction with self‐removable soft cast for greenstick fractures of the distal radius

Abstract

An audit of the effectiveness of the use of a self‐removable soft cast in the management of greenstick fractures in children was undertaken at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City. The standard treatment in many UK hospitals is the application of below‐elbow dorsal slabs of plaster of Paris which are subsequently completed in a fracture clinic. A further clinic appointment is made for removal of the plaster. Soft cast (Scotchcast™ 3M Health Care St. Paul, MN, USA), a new and versatile material that eliminates the need for return visits, was used for greenstick fractures. The number of visits to the fracture clinic was reduced and patients were satisfied. This method of treatment released clinic spaces for other patients (a cost benefit) and the negative effects of children's visits to hospitals were minimized. Possible complications for patients and staff of removal of the cast by standard techniques were reduced. We expect that the use of self‐removable soft cast will become standard treatment, and more widespread indications for it will be studied.