Step by Step Guides

3M™ Soft Cast tape

What is it?

• Unique fibreglass material
• Remains semi-rigid and flexible providing resilient support
• Same application characteristics as vetcast
• Provides enough mobility to prevent joint stiffness and assist in recovery

Why use Soft Cast™ tape?

Complications occur with rigid casts such as:

• Muscle atrophy
• Joint contracture
• Cartilage degeneration
• Pressure sores
• Soft tissue necrosis

Where to use it?

When support is needed but rigid immobilisation is not required such as:

• Athletic injuries
• Corrective serial casting
• Secondary and tertiary casting
• Compression wrap

Placement, care, maintenance and removal of 3M™ Soft Cast

Placement-dry technique

1. Apply a double layer of 3m stockinette directly onto the limb to act as padding and to aid in removal allowing you to slide a pair of scissors in between the layers.
2. You may wish to spray a layer of Cavilon™ onto the skin underneath and around the stockinette.
3. Microfoam tape may be stuck onto the stockinette to pad any bony prominences.
4. By dipping the softcast in water you will speed up the setting process so to gain more time you can apply the softcast dry and wet it when the application is complete.
5. Apply the first layer of softcast onto the stockinette overlapping half to two thirds, thus producing a double base layer.
6. If scotchcast longuettes are to be used in conjunction with softcast to specifically stabilise the injury site you should now cut a suitable length and splint the required area.
7. Apply a second layer of softcast dry with minimum tension. To enhance lamination between layers the completed application should be overwrapped with a wet crepe bandage for five minutes. Any moulding of the cast should be done at this point.
8. Remove the crepe bandage and cover with vetrap.
9. If the support that is given needs to be reduced as the patient recovers it can be unwound layer by layer allowing gradual freedom of movement.

Placement- split cast technique

1. Prepare the limb, apply a double layer of 3m stockinette to protect the patients skin, bony prominences may be covered with microfoam or may be further padded with 3m synthetic cast padding.
2. Whilst wearing gloves, dip the opened roll of softcast in room temperature water for at least 5 seconds and roll the softcast around to ensure all sides are wet. Gently squeeze the excess water out.
3. Wrap the tape spirally overlapping the previous turn by half to two thirds. Apply slight tension but avoid tightness.
4. 2-3 layers are sufficient for small animals, 4-5 layers for larger dogs depending on the amount of support required.
5. Mould the entire cast to ensure good adhesion between layers.
6. Once the cast is set it can be cut off with bandage shears.
7. The cast can be opened to give full visibility of the limb allowing dressings to be changed.
8. Once dressings have been changed the cast can be re-applied and held securely in place with vetrap. This gives just as much support as the initial application
9. If the support needs to be reduced as the patient recovers it can be unwound layer by layer allowing gradual freedom of movement.

Care and maintenance

1. The cast needs to be kept clean and dry at all times
2. You can change the layer of vetrap covering the cast at regular intervals.
3. When you remove the cast to check dressings check for calluses and sores if any are present (which they shoud not be) spray them with cavilon, pad and cover with microfoam before re application of the cast.

Removal

1. Cut the cast with a pair of bandage shears at an angle of 45 degrees. This will mitre the edges making reapplication easier and less likely to rub.
2. Run the scissors between the two layers of stockinette pull the bottom layer of stockinette tight to prevent it from gathering.

Equipment list

82101 Softcast 2.5cm
82102 Softcast 5cm
82103 Softcast 7.6cm
82104 Softcast 10cm
82105 Softcast 12.7cm
MS01 to MS08 3m stockinette (2.5 to 20.3cm)
MW02 to MW06 3m synthetic cast padding (5 to 15.2cm)
82199 3M Scotchcast longuette
82299 3M Scotchcast longuette
1528-1 to 1528-4 3M Microfoam tape
3346E Cavilon barrier spray

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