Casts are veritable double-edged swords in equine practice: While they play an important role in stabilizing fractures and treating wounds and tendon lacerations, they can cause a variety of complications. Some horses don’t tolerate casts well, casts can cause pressure sores, and many veterinarians prefer to hospitalize horses with casts–an overwhelmingly expensive endeavor for many horse owners.

At the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Nov. 18–22 in San Antonio, Texas, Ashlee Watts, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, described an improved technique for applying and reapplying a standing bandage cast to horses with severe lower limb injuries.

“When a wound or injury is anticipated to require repeated care from the veterinarian on a near-daily basis but needs the stability of a cast, a ‘bivalved’ bandage cast is indicated,” advised Watts. A bivalved bandage cast is one that can be removed by two equal cuts on the inside and outside of the limb