Guest guest Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 I asked our Dr. in Montreal about fiberglass casts and soft casts when Shalom was just starting out over a year and a half ago now. He did not use the soft casts as he felt it was too expensive for the length opf time the kids were in them (keep in mind this is Canada, so we did not pay for the products but the Shriners Hospital did). The cost was not justifiable when a good product was readily available at qa much lower cost. Plus the fiberglass was strickly to cover a plaster cast to give it more strength in older babies. We had the issue of needing as light weight as possible with the history of brittle bones. I thought fiberglass would be better for the weight issue but it takes too long to dry and thus risking the possible loss of the correction during drying time. and Shalom shelleylapp dslapp@...> wrote: Louisa, this is exactly the type of cast Evan had (that I posted about at the beginning of this soaking off discussion). Did you ever have any trouble with it, slipping etc? Who is your dr.? Someone thought that they are less reliable than plaster because the foot can't be manipulated as well, but having watched them be applied many times, I feel that simply can't be the case. We never had plaster, but I know that our dr. was able to be very precise with manipulation and holding the foot exactly as he wanted it until the cast dried. I count ourselves lucky that Seattle Children's (under Dr. Mosca) uses this material and I feel so sorry that others are having difficulty with something that was absolutely never an issue for us. These " soft " casts are a BREEZE!! I wonder if Dr. Ponseti has tried them--does anyone know? 8) and Evan (8-17-00) > > > > When we started treatment with the non-Ponseti doctor, they also > > >used the saw to remove infant casts. It was terrible and on two > > >occasion my son suffered a saw-burn on his skin where the blade was > > >pushed through too deep. > > > > > > > > If these are plaster casts you probably know you could soak > them at > > >home prior to the visit so they would come off rather easily at the > > >dr.'s office. Just a suggestion if the saw frightens your baby too > > >much. > > > > s. > > > > > > > > Re: today > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > They used the saw on anyone and everyone it seems. Apparently it > > >only > > > > vibrates and she put it on her hand to prove this. > > > > r. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 It's Dr. Ponseti that says they're less reliable. I was only reiterating what I've read. I'm pretty sure there's a very good reason he has for indicating that plaster be used over fiberglass. I didn't care actually, I did like the soft fiberglass cast better than the plasters, but I wanted to make sure my daughter got the best possible treatment and her first Dr. used fiberglass, Dr. Sussman who is Ponseti Certified at Shriners in Portland did not. It was the first red flag for me, and the first question I asked when I contacted them considering a second opinion. I am not saying fiberglass don't work, because Darbi's first fiberglass cast absolutely worked, there was so much improvement. I also think that doc was going to do a great job correcting her foot. I just felt more comfortable going with who Dr. Ponseti recommended and after I found out Shriners was free (after our first appointment) that was really a better option for us. And... I liked that according to the literature plaster casts were a better choice, and complied with Dr. Ponseti's protocol. I am a die hard believer... what Dr. Ponseti says... that's what we do. Maybe or cares to comment on plaster vs fiberglass? I know it holds the foot better, but I don't know the specifics of why... or the specifics of why fiberglass is not the best choice. > Kori Mama of Kenton 6/98 Merek 3/00 Darbi 3/03 - Rt. CF - DBB 12hr/day (¨`·.·´¨) `·.¸(¨`·.·´¨) `·.¸.·´ At 03:33 PM 8/30/2004, you wrote: >Louisa, this is exactly the type of cast Evan had (that I posted >about at the beginning of this soaking off discussion). Did you ever >have any trouble with it, slipping etc? Who is your dr.? Someone >thought that they are less reliable than plaster because the foot >can't be manipulated as well, but having watched them be applied many >times, I feel that simply can't be the case. We never had plaster, >but I know that our dr. was able to be very precise with manipulation >and holding the foot exactly as he wanted it until the cast dried. I >count ourselves lucky that Seattle Children's (under Dr. Mosca) uses >this material and I feel so sorry that others are having difficulty >with something that was absolutely never an issue for us. >These " soft " casts are a BREEZE!! I wonder if Dr. Ponseti has tried >them--does anyone know? 8) > > and Evan (8-17-00) > > > > > > > > When we started treatment with the non-Ponseti doctor, they >also > > > >used the saw to remove infant casts. It was terrible and on two > > > >occasion my son suffered a saw-burn on his skin where the blade >was > > > >pushed through too deep. > > > > > > > > > > If these are plaster casts you probably know you could soak > > them at > > > >home prior to the visit so they would come off rather easily at >the > > > >dr.'s office. Just a suggestion if the saw frightens your baby >too > > > >much. > > > > > s. > > > > > > > > > > Re: today > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > They used the saw on anyone and everyone it seems. Apparently >it > > > >only > > > > > vibrates and she put it on her hand to prove this. > > > > > r. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 It's Dr. Ponseti that says they're less reliable. I was only reiterating what I've read. I'm pretty sure there's a very good reason he has for indicating that plaster be used over fiberglass. I didn't care actually, I did like the soft fiberglass cast better than the plasters, but I wanted to make sure my daughter got the best possible treatment and her first Dr. used fiberglass, Dr. Sussman who is Ponseti Certified at Shriners in Portland did not. It was the first red flag for me, and the first question I asked when I contacted them considering a second opinion. I am not saying fiberglass don't work, because Darbi's first fiberglass cast absolutely worked, there was so much improvement. I also think that doc was going to do a great job correcting her foot. I just felt more comfortable going with who Dr. Ponseti recommended and after I found out Shriners was free (after our first appointment) that was really a better option for us. And... I liked that according to the literature plaster casts were a better choice, and complied with Dr. Ponseti's protocol. I am a die hard believer... what Dr. Ponseti says... that's what we do. Maybe or cares to comment on plaster vs fiberglass? I know it holds the foot better, but I don't know the specifics of why... or the specifics of why fiberglass is not the best choice. > Kori Mama of Kenton 6/98 Merek 3/00 Darbi 3/03 - Rt. CF - DBB 12hr/day (¨`·.·´¨) `·.¸(¨`·.·´¨) `·.¸.·´ At 03:33 PM 8/30/2004, you wrote: >Louisa, this is exactly the type of cast Evan had (that I posted >about at the beginning of this soaking off discussion). Did you ever >have any trouble with it, slipping etc? Who is your dr.? Someone >thought that they are less reliable than plaster because the foot >can't be manipulated as well, but having watched them be applied many >times, I feel that simply can't be the case. We never had plaster, >but I know that our dr. was able to be very precise with manipulation >and holding the foot exactly as he wanted it until the cast dried. I >count ourselves lucky that Seattle Children's (under Dr. Mosca) uses >this material and I feel so sorry that others are having difficulty >with something that was absolutely never an issue for us. >These " soft " casts are a BREEZE!! I wonder if Dr. Ponseti has tried >them--does anyone know? 8) > > and Evan (8-17-00) > > > > > > > > When we started treatment with the non-Ponseti doctor, they >also > > > >used the saw to remove infant casts. It was terrible and on two > > > >occasion my son suffered a saw-burn on his skin where the blade >was > > > >pushed through too deep. > > > > > > > > > > If these are plaster casts you probably know you could soak > > them at > > > >home prior to the visit so they would come off rather easily at >the > > > >dr.'s office. Just a suggestion if the saw frightens your baby >too > > > >much. > > > > > s. > > > > > > > > > > Re: today > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > They used the saw on anyone and everyone it seems. Apparently >it > > > >only > > > > > vibrates and she put it on her hand to prove this. > > > > > r. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2004 Report Share Posted September 1, 2004 It's Dr. Ponseti that says they're less reliable. I was only reiterating what I've read. I'm pretty sure there's a very good reason he has for indicating that plaster be used over fiberglass. I didn't care actually, I did like the soft fiberglass cast better than the plasters, but I wanted to make sure my daughter got the best possible treatment and her first Dr. used fiberglass, Dr. Sussman who is Ponseti Certified at Shriners in Portland did not. It was the first red flag for me, and the first question I asked when I contacted them considering a second opinion. I am not saying fiberglass don't work, because Darbi's first fiberglass cast absolutely worked, there was so much improvement. I also think that doc was going to do a great job correcting her foot. I just felt more comfortable going with who Dr. Ponseti recommended and after I found out Shriners was free (after our first appointment) that was really a better option for us. And... I liked that according to the literature plaster casts were a better choice, and complied with Dr. Ponseti's protocol. I am a die hard believer... what Dr. Ponseti says... that's what we do. Maybe or cares to comment on plaster vs fiberglass? I know it holds the foot better, but I don't know the specifics of why... or the specifics of why fiberglass is not the best choice. > Kori Mama of Kenton 6/98 Merek 3/00 Darbi 3/03 - Rt. CF - DBB 12hr/day (¨`·.·´¨) `·.¸(¨`·.·´¨) `·.¸.·´ At 03:33 PM 8/30/2004, you wrote: >Louisa, this is exactly the type of cast Evan had (that I posted >about at the beginning of this soaking off discussion). Did you ever >have any trouble with it, slipping etc? Who is your dr.? Someone >thought that they are less reliable than plaster because the foot >can't be manipulated as well, but having watched them be applied many >times, I feel that simply can't be the case. We never had plaster, >but I know that our dr. was able to be very precise with manipulation >and holding the foot exactly as he wanted it until the cast dried. I >count ourselves lucky that Seattle Children's (under Dr. Mosca) uses >this material and I feel so sorry that others are having difficulty >with something that was absolutely never an issue for us. >These " soft " casts are a BREEZE!! I wonder if Dr. Ponseti has tried >them--does anyone know? 8) > > and Evan (8-17-00) > > > > > > > > When we started treatment with the non-Ponseti doctor, they >also > > > >used the saw to remove infant casts. It was terrible and on two > > > >occasion my son suffered a saw-burn on his skin where the blade >was > > > >pushed through too deep. > > > > > > > > > > If these are plaster casts you probably know you could soak > > them at > > > >home prior to the visit so they would come off rather easily at >the > > > >dr.'s office. Just a suggestion if the saw frightens your baby >too > > > >much. > > > > > s. > > > > > > > > > > Re: today > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > They used the saw on anyone and everyone it seems. Apparently >it > > > >only > > > > > vibrates and she put it on her hand to prove this. > > > > > r. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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