3M Synthetic Cast Stockinet

SKUs: MS01 (1") | MS02 (2") | MS03 (3") | MS04 (4") | MS06 (6")

Fine-Knit Ribbed Polyester  |  25 Yards Per Roll  |  Cast & Brace Underlayment  |  Plaster & Synthetic Compatible  |  Unpadded Application Suitable  |  Latex Free  |  By Solventum (Formerly 3M)

A fine-knit ribbed polyester tubular stockinette for use as the innermost layer in cast and brace application — placed directly against the skin before padding and casting material. Conforms to body contours, provides smooth skin contact, and reduces water retention compared to cotton stockinette. Compatible with all casting materials including plaster of Paris and synthetic casting tapes. Suitable for unpadded application with synthetic semi-rigid materials. Five widths from 1" for fingers to 6" for large limbs. 25-yard rolls. Latex-free. By Solventum (formerly 3M Health Care).

Order by Part Number

Select width based on the circumference of the body part to be cast. Stockinette stretches to accommodate; when in doubt, size up one step. Questions? 1-866-218-0902

Key Features

• Fine-knit ribbed polyester construction — smooth against skin; conforms to body contours without bunching or wrinkling
• Reduces water retention — polyester does not absorb and hold moisture the way cotton does; helps maintain skin comfort under the cast
• Compatible with all casting materials — plaster of Paris, fiberglass casting tape, and other synthetic casting materials
• Suitable for unpadded application with synthetic semi-rigid materials — used directly under semi-rigid synthetic cast material without an intermediate padding layer in appropriate protocols
• Cast underlayment — the innermost layer of a cast assembly; provides skin protection and a smooth base for overlying padding and casting material
• Brace underlayment — comfortable liner for orthopedic braces and splints
• Holds padding in place during casting application
• 25-yard roll — provides many applications per roll for clinical settings
• Five widths from 1" to 6"
• Latex free

Clinical FAQs

What is cast stockinette and why is it used as the first layer of a cast?

Cast stockinette is a tubular knitted fabric that is rolled onto the limb before any other casting material is applied. It serves as the skin-contact interface for the entire casting assembly. Its primary roles are to protect the skin from direct contact with padding materials and casting tapes, to create a smooth uniform surface for subsequent layers, and to provide the folded cuff at each end of the cast that covers and protects the cut edges of the casting tape from contacting the patient's skin. The stockinette is applied first, rolled onto the limb with approximately 2–3 inches of extra length at each end; after the cast is complete, these excess ends are folded back over the cast edges and secured to form a finished edge. Without this folded cuff, the cut edges of fiberglass or plaster tape would directly contact the skin and cause irritation or injury.

How do I choose the right width?

Select a width that slides comfortably over the body part being cast without excessive bunching or tension. Stockinette has significant lateral stretch, so each width accommodates a range of circumferences. As a practical guide: 1" for individual fingers or toes; 2" for wrists, small feet, and children's arms and legs; 3" for forearms, ankles, and average adult wrists; 4" for average adult forearms and lower legs; and 6" for adult legs, thighs, and large limbs. Pediatric applications generally use widths one step smaller than the equivalent adult area. If the stockinette feels tight or cuts into the skin when stretched over the limb, go up one width. A properly fitted stockinette should slide on smoothly with modest resistance and lie flat against the skin without creating ridges that would be transferred into the padding and casting layers above it.

What does "suitable for unpadded application" mean and when is this technique used?

Standard casting technique uses a layer sequence of stockinette, then cast padding (e.g., Webril cotton), then casting tape. In some clinical situations — particularly with modern semi-rigid synthetic casting and splinting materials and in certain functional casting protocols — the clinician may apply the synthetic material directly over stockinette without a separate padding layer. This unpadded technique produces a more form-fitting, thinner, lighter cast with greater sensory feedback and is used in specific clinical contexts such as functional short-leg walking casts for stable fractures, certain post-surgical immobilization protocols, and serial casting for contracture management. Unpadded casting is a clinical technique decision and should only be used by trained clinicians with appropriate indications — it is not a general substitute for padded casting in most fracture management.

Questions about casting stockinette sizing, compatibility with specific casting tapes, or volume ordering? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902