Serial casting for children with neurological conditions
Serial casting of the lower limb is used frequently in paediatric physiotherapy practice to manage contracture and optimise musculoskeletal alignment in children following neurological injury and/or with neurodisability.
The application of, and more specifically, the removal of a serial cast using a cast saw is often a distressing and potentially traumatic experience for a child or young person, especially given that patients with neurodisability often have otherimpairments or past trauma that may contribute to their distress on having a cast with a cast saw. Alternative methods of cast removal that does not involve a cast saw, including specific casting material selection, will be explored and practiced. Such management methods may be more suitable for paediatric patients compared with traditional removal using a cast saw.
At the end of this course, participants will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of serial casting options in the paediatric population
- Describe how to assess a paediatric patient to determine whether serial casting is indicated
- Be able to identify appropriate options for treatment, and through a process of clinical reasoning, identify most appropriate serial casting technique as part of the child's holistic management plan.
The application of, and more specifically, the removal of a serial cast using a cast saw is often a distressing and potentially traumatic experience for a child or young person, especially given that patients with neurodisability often have otherimpairments or past trauma that may contribute to their distress on having a cast with a cast saw. Alternative methods of cast removal that does not involve a cast saw, including specific casting material selection, will be explored and practiced. Such management methods may be more suitable for paediatric patients compared with traditional removal using a cast saw.
At the end of this course, participants will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of serial casting options in the paediatric population
- Describe how to assess a paediatric patient to determine whether serial casting is indicated
- Be able to identify appropriate options for treatment, and through a process of clinical reasoning, identify most appropriate serial casting technique as part of the child's holistic management plan.
Learning outcomes
- Able to describe the rationale and clinical reasoning process to determine whether serial casting is appropriate.
- Demonstrate an understanding of impact of upper motor neuron lesion on a developing musculoskeletal system, and the effect of muscle hypoextensibility in the lower limb, on function.
- Able to identify relevant contraindications and precautions associated with serial casting in the paediatric population.
- Demonstrate familiarity with different casting materials (pertinent to use in the paediatric population) and their properties.
- Prepare casting environment and be able to apply lower limb serial casts for soft tissue and muscle length impairments in a paediatric patient.
- Demonstrate removal of serial cast without the use of a cast saw.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how to maintain functional and impairment gains post serial casting management.
Prerequisites
- Physiotherapists with some experience treating conditions requiring serial casting
Presenters
Jan Hancock
Bronwyn Thomas
Bronwyn is a highly skilled and experienced Neurological Physiotherapist who has worked with children and young people following neurological injury and with neurodisbaility over a number of years. Bronwyn is a Senior Physiotherapist at Kids Rehab at the Childrens' Hopsital at Westmead, Sydney and also works in the community and private sector.
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