Antithrombin III deficiency, hypertriglyceridaemia, and venous thromboses.

By using the "vacuum consolidation" technique1 2 an exact replica of the limb can be made, around which an effective splint can be moulded without causing unnecessary pain. This uses an airtight plastic bag containing Fillite-a very fine particle, the byproduct of ash produced in electricity generating stations. It is fitted with a filtered outlet tube and attached to a vacuum source.3 The child is positioned so that the affected limb lies on a bag of Fillite and this is manoeuvred to produce a mould for the lower half of the limb (see figure). Evacuation causes the Fillite bag to assume a rigid shape, exactly reproducing the contours of the limb. A second, smaller bag is then placed over the limb completely covering it; evacuation will then complete the mould and the child may be removed by separating the two bags. The remaining negative is an exact replica of the limb, and an accurate reproduction may be produced by using plaster of paris poured into the mould between the two bags. After five to ten minutes of drying only, the vacuum may be released on both bags, allowing the positive cast to be removed and made smooth before it hardens completely. A splint may now be made by moulding Plastazote around the cast, reinforcing this with longitudinal strips of polypropylene, and this is finished with strips of Velcro. A rough fitting of the splint can be made within two hours of the first impression's being taken.