Opening Plaster Casts - HEBU medical ECO Accu Mode D'emploi

Oszillosäge ECO Accu

5.1 Opening plaster casts

First select a suitable saw blade.
Apply the HEBU oscillating saw with the saw blade mounted to the cast you wish to open and
press in lightly. Your guiding hand can be used as a support and for depth control, and to
prevent sudden penetration of the blade when the cast has been cut through.
As long as the saw blade is cutting through the plaster, you will be able to feel a resistance.
Once the plaster cast has been cut through, this resistance disappears. Once the breakthrough
point is tangible, lift the saw blade off lightly without removing it from the cutting groove and
move it forwards appr. 15 mm in the direction of cutting.
Then apply the blade again and proceed as described above until the next piece has been cut
through.
In this way, the plaster cast is more safely opened through a series of cuts and linear
movements along the cutting line than would be the case if executing a continuous linear cut.
After you have used the saw only a few times, you will become accustomed to guiding the saw
through the plaster cast and you will also develop an instinctive feel for the moment where no
further resistance is tangible and no further pressure should be applied to the saw blade.
If the saw blade oscillates for too long on the wadding, high-speed oscillation can bring about a
burning sensation on the skin under the wadding.
Additional remarks:
Because different materials are used, every plaster or plastic cast has different properties.
While working, try to determine the optimum speed for the respective material.
A lower speed is advantages when cutting through plastic casts. This prevents the plastic from
starting to melt due to friction heat generated during cutting.
Where possible, avoid cutting through plaster casts without wadding when using the HEBU
oscillating cast cutting saw. Injuries can result if the skin has become stuck to the plaster, and
so does not oscillate with the saw blade. Where a plaster cast close to the skin is preferred,
we recommend laying a knitted or felt strip along one side of the arm or leg and drawing a line
precisely above this strip on the surface of the plaster cast using indelible ink. When sawing
open the cast, this line can be used as guiding mark.
When applying a plaster cast following surgery, the position of the operation wound should be
marked on the surface of the plaster cast. This will allow a window to be cut subsequently in
the plaster for removing stitches and observation of the wound.
Cutting a window in the plaster also simplifies the extraction of bone nails and also facilitates
any necessary punctures or incisions.
Metal rails inserted in the plaster cast should not be cut.
While serving, check the retaining screw for a firm fit and if necessary tighten.
Used and blunt saw blades place excessive stress on the motor and should consequently be
continuously checked and exchanged in good time.
To ensure even wear of the saw blade, open the retaining screw and turn the saw blade by
90°.
EN
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