For more than a century, plaster of Paris (P.O.P) bandages were the standard for immobilizing fractures. Today, orthopedic fiberglass casting tape has largely replaced traditional plaster casts in modern clinical practice. Below we summarize the key differences that make fiberglass casting tape the preferred choice for orthopedic surgeons and their patients.
1. Material & Comfort
Fiberglass casting tape is made of polymeric materials with excellent breathability. It is firm, light and water-proof with good ventilation, so the patient feels it comfortable, safe and hygienic. Because casting tape has very low contractibility after drying, it does not cause the tight, itchy skin symptoms that a plaster cast produces while it dries.
2. X-Ray Transmittance
Casting tape has excellent X-ray transmittance, allowing doctors to monitor the healing of a fracture at any time during treatment. With a plaster cast, the healing condition can only be assessed after the cast is removed.
3. Strength & Weight
A moisture-curable fiberglass casting tape is roughly 20–25 times stronger than an ordinary plaster bandage, yet about 5 times lighter, with impact resistance ≥ 12 KJ/m².
4. Setting Time
Casting tape needs only a short time to harden — about 10 minutes for load-bearing — while a plaster cast requires roughly 24 hours. During hardening, plaster undergoes an exothermic crystallization reaction that can give the patient a burning sensation; fiberglass casting tape does not.
5. Clinical Convenience
Thanks to its flexibility, casting tape is more convenient for partial shaping and wrapping, making it well suited to a wide range of fractures and orthopedic applications.
Shuangwei manufactures a complete range of orthopedic fiberglass casting tapes, splints and multi-color casting tapes. Contact us for specifications and OEM enquiries.