“I was at the bottom of a slide, and my friend was getting off, and he by accident tripped, and he was getting back up, and I tripped over his leg and fell on my arm,” said Cromwell.
Cromwell’s arm was broken, and the Farmington, Mich., third grader was facing a long summer in a cast.
“When school was out, that’s when the swim season began, so, at that time, we were kind of sweating it,” said Donna Cromwell, Megan’s mother. “To tell a kid ‘no’ when it’s 90 degrees outside is not fun.”
But most of Cromwell’s summer was saved thanks to a new type of cast that’s waterproof.
Dr. Jeffrey Settecerri is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. He offers the waterproof casts for certain types of fractures.
“Waterproof means waterproof. You can swim in a pool, you can wash the dishes, you can swim in a lake. The cast itself doesn’t have to be covered when it’s submerged in water,” said Settecerri.
Settecerri said the outside of the cast is still made of fiberglass, it’s the lining that’s different.
“The standard liner is made out of cotton and much like a sponge, if it were to get wet, it would remain wet under the fiberglass that doesn’t breathe,” said Settecerri.
To make a standard cast waterproof, doctors replace the cotton liner with a material called GORE-TEX®. The special liner has billions of tiny pores that are too small for liquid to pass through, but large enough for sweat and evaporated water to get out. When the cast gets wet, the liquid water drains out the end of the cast through small channels. Any water that remains will evaporate within an hour.
Doctors said the material is also easier on the skin under the cast.
When Cromwell’s cast was removed, there was virtually no difference between her arms.
Some patients also said the waterproof casts are less itchy and don’t smell like traditional casts can.
“From comfort issues and hygiene, it’s just really revolutionized fracture care and has made everyone’s life a lot easier,” said Settecerri.
Waterproof casts are not an option for all fractures. Settecerri said they’re generally best for wrist and forearm fractures, but not breaks involving the upper arm or legs.
“I don’t think it’s as useful for a walking cast where weight-bearing has to be done through the cast,” said Settecerri.
The special lining is also sometimes used for children who need to be in body casts for weeks at a time.
“It’s just a lot more comfortable for the child,” said Settecerri.
The waterproof cast was a hit with Cromwell and her mom.
“It’s been absolutely excellent,” said Donna Cromwell.
“I like the waterproof casts a lot,” said Megan Cromwell. “When I got it I thought this was really special because I could go swimming.”
Settecerri said insurance companies are not typically willing to pay the extra cost for the waterproof liner, but it only adds about $15 to $30.
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