How to Make a Bandage Cast and Indications for its Use

Frequently the equine practitioner encounters situations in which an alternate form of external coaptation is desirable in the management of injuries of the lower limb. Traditional fiberglass casts are ideal for providing rigid coaptation in most cases but do not allow access to the soft tissues of the limb and typically require replacement every 3–6 weeks. A bandage cast is a reusable form of a traditional cast that maintains rigid stabilization of the limb yet is amenable to frequent removal and resetting with the primary advantage of allowing the clinician access to the underlying soft tissues. The most common indications for the use of the bandage cast in our practice are for the management of severe soft tissue injuries (i.e., tendon lacerations, extensive wounds over areas under tension) and for selected orthopedic injuries. We also use the bandage cast routinely as a form of temporary external coaptation for horses recovering from general anesthesia after undergoing internal fixation for lower limb fractures. Case selection is very important when deciding if a bandage cast has advantages for case management over traditional casting methods. If instability of the lower limb exists, it is imperative that the horse can comfortably and safely stand during the bandage changes without compromising the integrity of the repair.