From the BioDesign Lab, School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2021 Sep 13;5(9):e21.00115. doi: 10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-21-00115.
Traditional plaster and fiberglass casts are not waterproof. This experimental study compares the water-resistant and drying properties of two commercially available orthoses with traditional cast liners.
Two orthotic brace systems were selected for comparative waterproof testing with plaster and fiberglass traditional cast liners. This entailed water submersion for 10 seconds, followed by light drip drying for another 10 seconds. Moisture levels were then measured at four different locations immediately after drip drying and then every 15 minutes up to 45 minutes.
The Zero-Cast Wx orthosis retained the least moisture after initial immersion and was fully dry within 45 minutes. The Exos upper extremity brace also demonstrated a low initial mean moisture content but lost little moisture during drying. In comparison, both the cotton-lined plaster cast and Delta Dr. cast liner systems demonstrated the greatest amount of water absorbed and moisture retention.
Both orthotic brace systems demonstrated markedly less water absorption compared with the cotton-lined plaster cast and Delta Dr. cast liner systems. The Zero-Cast Wx was the only orthosis to fully dry in 45 minutes.
Both orthotic brace systems provide superior water-resistant properties to traditional cotton-lined plaster cast or fiberglass Delta Dr. cast liner systems.
传统的石膏和玻璃纤维夹板不防水。本实验研究比较了两种市售矫形器与传统石膏衬垫的防水和干燥性能。
选择了两种矫形器系统进行比较防水测试，与石膏和玻璃纤维传统的石膏衬垫。这需要水浸泡 10 秒，然后再轻滴干燥 10 秒。然后在滴干后立即在四个不同的位置测量水分含量，然后每 15 分钟测量一次，最多测量 45 分钟。
Zero-Cast Wx 矫形器在初始浸泡后保持最少的水分，45 分钟内完全干燥。上肢外固定支具 Exos 也表现出低的初始平均水分含量，但在干燥过程中水分损失很少。相比之下，棉质衬里石膏和 Delta Dr. 石膏衬垫系统都吸收了最多的水分并保持水分。
两种矫形器系统与棉质衬里石膏和 Delta Dr. 石膏衬垫系统相比，吸收的水分明显较少。Zero-Cast Wx 是唯一一种在 45 分钟内完全干燥的矫形器。
两种矫形器系统都提供了比传统棉质衬里石膏或玻璃纤维 Delta Dr. 石膏衬垫系统更好的防水性能。
