Which cast is used for ankles, tarsals and metatarsals affections with open wound, swelling and infection?

• A. Long Leg Posterior Mold
• B. Cylinder Cast
• C. Quadrilateral/Ischial Weight Bearing Cast
• D. Short Leg Posterior Mold

Answer: (D)

When there’s swelling and an open wound in the ankle and foot region, you want a cast that immobilizes the area but doesn’t trap the swelling or obscure wound care. A short leg cast with a posterior mold achieves this best. The posterior slab sits along the back of the leg, allowing the front to adapt to edema and giving easy access to the wound for dressing changes and inspection. It provides the necessary immobilization of the ankle and foot while avoiding the tight, circumferential pressure that a full cylinder-type or long-leg cast would impose. Other options either immobilize more of the leg than needed (long leg) or encircle the limb entirely (cylinder), or are meant for different regions (hip/pelvis) and aren’t appropriate for ankle-area injuries with infection. So, the short leg posterior mold is the most suitable choice in this scenario.