Standard of Practice Stifle Impressions

GATHER DOCUMENTS AND IMPRESSION MATERIALS:

⦁ Patient Information Document (included in kit or can be found on website)

⦁ Glad Press’n Seal plastic wrap (must use this for greatest success)

⦁ Cut strip (can substitute ¼” surgical tubing or drip line)

⦁ Hook blade (available at local hardware store)

⦁ Tape

⦁ Bandage scissors

⦁ Permanent marker

⦁ Gloves

⦁ Bowl of cold water

⦁ Fiberglass non-flexible casting tape:

⦁ Start with a double wrap just above stifle joint.

⦁ Do not use larger than 2” except for equine size animals.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Positioning:

a. Patient is standing.

b. Align limb in normal standing position/angle.

c. Ok to support patient in stance.

2) Waterproof barrier – use Glad Press’n Seal wrap (in place of stockingette).  Wrap the entire length of limb needed for impression.  When in doubt a longer impression is better.

3) Cut strip – Position cut strip with groove facing out from the top of the toes on up the leg towards torso.  The cut strip will continue on the cranial/front of the tarsus joint.  Cut strip should be aligned between the fibular head and tibial crest (lateral stifle).

a. Ok of cut strip does not extend up the limb entirely.

4) Prep fiberglass casting material – use cold water.  Don’t open casting material pouch until you’re ready to use it.

5) Apply fiberglass:

a. Start with a double wrap at the proximal/top end of the limb (femur) as far up into the groin as possible.

b. Spiral wrap down towards the toes overlapping only ½ of the previous layer.

c. End at distal metatarsals/toe joints.

d. Do NOT wrap back up the limb.  We need a thin impression (unlike a cast) of the limb.

e. Cut off excess fiberglass material while it is wet.

6) Setting the impression:

a. Hold limb in alignment you want device to support your patient.

b. Massage the fiberglass material with your hands to achieve the following results:

i. Ensure the tape layers bond.

ii. Expose the contours and landmarks/anatomy of the limb.

7) Mark the impression – Use a permanent marker to identify landmarks:

a. Distal end of metatarsal (paw meets rest of limb).

b. Malleoli/ankle bones.

c. Fibular head.

d. Tibial crest (attachment site for patella tendon).

e. Greater trochanter/hip joint.

f. Patient name and ‘Left’ or ‘Right’.

8) Remove impression – starting at the top/proximal edge, use bandage scissors to cut down to cut strip, then use hook blade utility knife and follow the cut strip groove.  Remove Press’n Seal.

9) Tape impression back together – Immediately tape the cast back together using any tape available.