The Waterproof Cast That Fits Your Daily Routine
FlexiOH offers a waterproof, breathable cast option with zipper removal. Ask about providers in your area. Your treating clinician will decide whether it suits your injury and which activities are appropriate.
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Share your city and state to ask about provider availability. This is an information request, not a medical assessment or a confirmed appointment. Your treating clinician determines whether FlexiOH is suitable for you.
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What Is a Waterproof Cast — and How Does It Work?
A waterproof cast is an orthopedic immobilization device designed to keep a fractured or injured limb stable while allowing full exposure to water. Unlike traditional plaster or fiberglass casts, which must be kept completely dry, a waterproof cast uses advanced polymer materials and an open-lattice or perforated structure that allows water to pass through and drain freely. The FlexiOH waterproof cast system takes this technology further with a light-cured polymer that hardens in minutes, a zipper closure for easy application and removal, and a biocompatible foam inner lining certified to ISO 10993-10.
Traditional fiberglass and plaster casts break down when wet, causing skin maceration, odor, fungal infections, and cast failure. Patients are forced to cover their casts with plastic bags for showers and avoid swimming entirely for weeks or months. The FlexiOH waterproof cast offers an alternative for water exposure. Its polymer shell is completely impervious to water, and the open-lattice design allows air circulation that keeps skin dry between water exposures.
A prospective, multicentric clinical study published in the Journal of Medical Sciences and Health (2024) reported fracture healing at the study’s third follow-up in patients treated with the FlexiOH Short Arm Immobilizer for distal radius fractures. The study also documented decreased pain medication requirements over the treatment course and confirmed the cast’s radiolucency — meaning X-rays can be taken without removing the cast.
Source: Bali T, et al. JMSH. 2024;10(1):104–110. DOI: 10.46347/jmsh.v10.i1.23.10
How FlexiOH Compares to a Traditional Cast
The difference between a waterproof cast and a traditional cast goes far beyond the ability to get wet. FlexiOH’s light-cured polymer technology provides equivalent immobilization to fiberglass while offering a different patient experience across every dimension of recovery.
| Feature | FlexiOH Waterproof Cast | Traditional Fiberglass Cast |
|---|---|---|
| Can get wet (shower, swim, bathe) | ✓ Yes — fully waterproof | ✗ No — must stay dry |
| Skin ventilation | ✓ 46% exposed skin area | ✗ Fully enclosed |
| Application and curing time | ✓ Approximately 3–10 minutes | Varies by material and technique |
| X-ray without removal | ✓ Radiolucent | Imaging depends on the cast and clinical needs |
| Cast saw required for removal | ✓ No — zipper closure | ✗ Yes — cast saw required |
| Biocompatible inner lining | ✓ ISO 10993-10 certified | ✗ Standard padding only |
| Weight | ✓ Lightweight polymer | ✗ Heavy plaster or fiberglass |
| Odor and skin breakdown risk | Open design; skin care is still important | Depends on padding, moisture and skin care |
Conditions Treated with a Waterproof Cast
FlexiOH is available in 8 configurations to treat a wide range of orthopedic fractures and soft tissue injuries across upper and lower extremities.
Distal Radius Fracture (Broken Wrist)
The most common wrist fracture. FlexiOH Short Arm Immobilizer provides proven immobilization and was evaluated in a published distal-radius fracture study. Learn more about wrist fracture casts.
Scaphoid Fracture
Requires extended immobilization. The FlexiOH Thumb Spica configuration provides the specific immobilization pattern required for scaphoid healing while keeping the hand fully waterproof.
Boxer’s Fracture & Metacarpal Fractures
The FlexiOH Radial Gutter and Ulnar Gutter configurations are designed specifically for metacarpal and phalangeal fractures. See our gutter splint page.
Ankle Fracture & Soft Tissue Injury
FlexiOH Short Leg and Long Leg configurations provide immobilization for ankle fractures, sprains, and lower leg soft tissue injuries — with full waterproof capability for showering and rehabilitation.
Pediatric Fractures
Children are especially active during recovery. FlexiOH’s pediatric configurations allow kids to bathe, swim, and stay active while their fracture heals safely. See our pediatric waterproof cast page.
Forearm & Radius-Ulna Fractures
The FlexiOH Long Arm Immobilizer covers elbow-to-wrist injuries requiring full forearm immobilization, with the same waterproof and breathable properties as all FlexiOH configurations.
Available FlexiOH Waterproof Cast Configurations
OrthoHeal carries all 8 FlexiOH configurations, allowing your treating physician to select the exact immobilization pattern required for your specific fracture or injury. Each configuration is available in multiple sizes for adults and children.
- Short Arm Immobilizer — wrist and distal radius fractures
- Long Arm Immobilizer — forearm and elbow injuries
- Radial Gutter Splint — 2nd and 3rd metacarpal fractures
- Ulnar Gutter Splint — 4th and 5th metacarpal (boxer’s fracture)
- Thumb Spica — scaphoid and thumb fractures
- Short Leg Immobilizer — ankle and foot fractures
- Long Leg Immobilizer — tibia and lower leg injuries
- Pediatric Configurations — sizes selected by the treating clinician
Why Trust OrthoHeal for Your Waterproof Cast
OrthoHeal is the authorized national dealer for FlexiOH waterproof cast systems in the United States. Every product we supply is sourced directly from OrthoHeal LLC, the manufacturer of the FlexiOH system, ensuring authenticity, quality control, and full clinical support.
Authorized National Dealer
We are the official authorized dealer for FlexiOH waterproof cast systems in the United States. Every unit is sourced directly from the manufacturer with full quality assurance and clinical documentation.
Published Clinical Evidence
The FlexiOH system is backed by a prospective, multicentric clinical study published in a peer-reviewed journal, reporting fracture healing at the study’s third follow-up in distal radius fracture patients. The findings come from published research. Individual outcomes vary.
Product and Skin-Care Guidance
Ask your treating clinician about skin sensitivity and whether FlexiOH is suitable for you. Product documentation and application guidance are available on request; skin irritation or concerns should be discussed with your clinician.
Direct Clinical Support Line
Our team includes orthopedic product specialists available by phone to assist patients, providers, and clinics with product selection, sizing, ordering, and clinical questions. Call (937) 776-7801 anytime.
Product and study context: A 2024 open-label study evaluated the FlexiOH Short Arm Immobilizer in 137 adults aged 18–80 with distal-radius fractures. The authors reported healing at the third follow-up. This was not a controlled comparison of healing speed, and its findings do not establish pediatric outcomes or guarantee an individual result. Healing time is not shortened by choosing a waterproof cast. Application and curing vary by size. Read the adult wrist study and the manufacturer’s guidance.
Waterproof Cast — Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions patients ask about waterproof casts, FlexiOH, and the recovery process.