It does not spin around like a circular saw.

Against the firm surface of the plaster or fiberglass, the cast saw will cut through the material.

Newer cast saws have become even easier to tolerate during cast removal.

A girl getting her cast removed with a cast saw

nkbimages / Getty Images

The most significant difference is the noise coming from the motor of the saw.

Older cast saws tend to have very noisy motors that can be frightening, especially for children.

Newer saws have much quieter motors that cause much less anxiety for patients.

What Can Go Wrong?

Abrasions and burns can be better managed when your provider is aware that these may have occurred.

A Word From Verywell

Casts are commonly used for treatment in orthopedics.

While cast removal can provoke anxiety, it is actually a very safe procedure.

A skilled cast technician will take steps to ensure that your cast is removed safely and withoutcomplications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cast removal is painless.

You should never take a stab at remove your own cast.

This can result in serious injury.

Cast saws should only be operated by trained professionals.

It can, but this is rare.

If an injury does occur, it is most often minor and more like a scrape than a cut.

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McNeil DS, Trenholm JAI.Establishing safety parameters for orthopaedic cast saw blade usage.J Pediatr Orthop.

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