Total contact cast system and methods for safe and easy removal thereof

A method of treating a neuropathic foot wound of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• covering a lower leg of the patient with a sock;
• covering the sock and the lower leg of the patient with a padding layer;
• applying a total contact cast including a casting material configured to harden around the padding layer and form an outer shell around the patient's lower leg and the padding layer and subsequently removing the total contact cast, the method further comprising the steps of:
• securing a sheathed wire saw to the padding layer prior to applying the casting material, wherein the sheathed wire saw comprises:
• a flexible plastic sheath which encloses a flexible metal cutting wire having a selected length which defines a cutting surface between two opposing ends thereof, the two opposing ends terminating in attachment points, comprising swivel attachments, for attaching handle attachments, the selected length of the flexible metal cutting wire defining a cutting surface extending the entire selected length between the two attachment points;
• the sheathed wire saw being supplied as an assembly with the flexible plastic sheath enclosing the entire cutting surface of the flexible metal cutting wire, the flexible plastic sheath being a planar envelope having a front sidewall and a rear sidewall and having an opening which receives the cutting surface of the flexible metal cutting wire, wherein the flexible metal cutting wire is free to move within the plastic sheath;
• wherein the rear sidewall of the flexible plastic sheath has attached thereto a peel-off adhesive strip to facilitate attachment of the sheathed wire saw to the padding layer;
• allowing the casting material to cure with the flexible metal cutting wire being enclosed in the flexible plastic sheath, so that the casting material cures around and over the enclosed flexible metal cutting wire;
• subsequently removing the casting material by attaching handle attachments to the attachment points provided on the flexible metal cutting wire and pulling with the handle attachments so that the flexible metal cutting wire cuts through the outer shell of the total contact cast;
• and
• wherein the flexible plastic sheath forms an envelope which is approximately 3 mils thick.