Aquablast Casting -- Have you heard of this?

[Guest guest]

I came across this article when searching. Sounds interesting.

Use of Aquaplast in the Management of Congenital Scoliosis

CAROLE JACQUES, B.S.R., O.T. Reg., ANDSUSAN GARRET, B.S.R., O.T. Reg.

Our patient was a 2 year, 9 month old girl with progressive infantile

idiopathic scoliosis. When first seen in orthopaedics at B.C.'s

Children's Hospital at 8 months of age, her curve measured 56 degrees

and was reduced to 35 degrees in a TLSO. Despite revisions and

adjustments to the bracing, her curve progressed to 88 degrees in the

brace by the age of 2 years, 3 months. She was then managed in a

series of plaster body casts in which her curve was reduced to 40-450.

In order to permit swimming and bathing over the summer, a request

was made for an Aquaplast body brace which would be removable. This

was fabricated in the O.R. with the child under general anesthetia.

Bony prominences including the apex of the curve were padded and a

sheet of heated Aquaplast was molded completely around the trunk.

Shoulder straps were added. Corrective forces were applied until the

material cooled. It was then cut off the child who was sent to the

Recovery Room while the finishing was done on the brace. X-rays have

shown an acceptable correction of the curve in the range of 60-65

degrees.

The child has worn this orthosis full-time except for bathing.

Originally it was intended to be for a short-term relief between

plaster casts, but its success has led to provision of a second one

to accommodate growth, rather than returning to plaster.

The spinal curve has not progressed in the 9 months of wearing the

Aquaplast orthosis.

British Columbia Children's Hospital. 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC

Canada V6H 1VA