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Letters to the Editor to:

Scientific Articles:
Franklin D. Shuler and Frank N. Grisafi
Cast-Saw Burns: Evaluation of Skin, Cast, and Blade Temperatures Generated During Cast Removal
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2008; 90: 2626-2630 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read Letter to the Editor] Plaster Cutter Injuries
Milind M. Deshpande, Harish Tople, MS; Sandeep Fowkar, MS   (8 September 2009)

Plaster Cutter Injuries 8 September 2009
Top
Milind M. Deshpande,
Consulting Orthosurgeon
Vivekanand Hospital, Hubli, Karnataka, India,
Harish Tople, MS; Sandeep Fowkar, MS

Send letter to journal:
Re: Plaster Cutter Injuries

milinddeshpande{at}sancharnet.in Milind M. Deshpande, et al.

To the Editor:

The injuries caused by the electric plaster cutter, though superficial most of the time, leaves the patient unhappy!

I prefer to demonstrate by applying the oscillating saw to my forearm before I begin cutting so that the patient is comfortable getting the saw onto his cast.

Injuries are more likely to occur if the cast has been applied by someone else and you have to remove it! Injuries are also more likely in the inexperienced hand. The fragile skin of the elderly population exposes the 'still learning phenomenon' even in the experienced hand!! Lastly, to be on the safer side, I prefer to cut away from bony prominences and surface marked neurovascular structures.

The authors did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of their research for or preparation of this work. Neither they nor a member of their immediate families received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity. No commercial entity paid or directed, or agreed to pay or direct, any benefits to any research fund, foundation, division, center, clinical practice, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which the authors, or a member of their immediate families, are affiliated or associated.