CA2162372A1 - Water repellent orthopedic dressing - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a water repellant dressing which is made from a soft, smooth, conformable, air-permeable, hydrophobic fabric. The fabric contains polymeric fibers of an extruded blend of a polymer and a fluorochemical oxazolidinone. These extruded fibers may be used to make a nonwoven, knitted or woven fabrics. The dressings of the present invention are especially useful when in contact with skin because the dressings are water repellant and soil resistant but allow air and vapor to pass through the dressings.

Description

21~2~7~

WATER REPELLENT ORTHOPEDIC DRESSING
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continll~tion-in-part of U.S. patent application Serial Number 08/069,868 filed June 1, 1993, which is a c4~ u~1;nn-in-part of U.S. patent application Serial Number 07/703,038 filed 10 May 17, 1991, pen~ling~ which is a con~ tion of U.S. patent application Serial Number 07/242,120 filed September 9, 1988, Ah~nrlQn BACKGROUND
The present invention generally relates to me~ l dressings and 15 particularly relates to orthopedic dres~in~.~, such as padding and stocLinPttps~
which are used with casting m~tPri~l. The dressings of the present invention are especi~lly useful when in contact with skin because the dressings are water repell~nt and soil resistant but allow air and vapor to pass through the dres~in~ ocesses to pr~a~e the m~tPriAl~ used to make the dressings of this 20 invention are described in the copending U.S. patent application Serial Number 07l703,038 filed May 17, 1991 which is incorporated by reference herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVEN~ON
The present invention provides a water repellent orthopedic 25 dressing. The dressing is made from a soft, smooth, conformable, air-pP-rmP~hle, hydrophobic fabric. The fabric contains polymeric fibers of an extruded blend of thermoplastic polymer and a fluorochemie~l oxazolidinone.
These extruded fibers may be used to make a nonwoven fabric which is particularly suited for use in cast or splint p~ ing. ~lle~ ely, the fibers 30 may be spun into yarns which may be used to make knitted or woven fAhncs.
A knitted fabric made from the extruded fibers is particularly suited for use instocl~inPttP~s and tubular stoc~ nettes.
Unexpectedly, the dressings made of the present extruded fibers are .~ignific~ntly softer, smoother and more conformable when compared to 35 similar dressing that are surface only treated with water repellent mAtPri~l~ such as fluor~chPmic~ls as described in U.S. Patent 4,989,593. The enhAnrP~ tactile pl.)~.Lies of the present dressings provide water repellent fabrics which may bein direct contact with a patient's skin and provide both increased comfort to the patient and reduced initAtion to the skin.

WO 94/27648 21~ 2 3 7 2 PCT/US94/05417 In addition, the pn)cessability and/or pe,ro,ll-ance of the extruded fibers may be enh~nc~d by surface treating or coating the fibers with a hydlophilic ~ntict~tic lubricant and a fluor~!chPmi~l water repellent. In the embo limPnt of the invention, the hydr~l ilic lubricant aids pr~ g of the J
S fibers while the fluorochP-mi~l water repellent gives improved initial water resi~t~nce.
P~ef~l~ thermoplastic polymers which are used to make the present fibers include polyethylene, poly~ropylene and polyesters such as polyethylene le~ephtl.Al~te as well as blends or copolymers thereof. Particularly plcfe~lcd polymers melt at sufficiently low tclll~l~Llurcs to allow melt blen-lin~
of the polymer with a fluororhP-mic~l ox~7oli~linQne without degr~ tiQn of the ox~7olidinone. ~lle. .~ re polymers include low mPltin~ non-reactive colllpa~ible polymers. Polyethylene and polypropylene are plesel lly most plcÇ~lcd polymers.
Suitable oxa_olidinones are described in U.S. Patents 5,025,052 and 5,099,026, which are incorporated by reference herein. A preferred fluor~rhPmic~l ox~7o~ inQnp~ (available from 3M, St. Paul, MN) is s~ AIi~lly r~)rcsented by the formula C

o/ \N C18~7 C8~l,SO2N(~

This ~l~rt;lled oxazolidinone (referred to herein as ODOX) is pf~ared according to le~l~d methods. Briefly, a perfluoroalkylsulfon~mide, C8Fl7SO2N(CH3)H, is reacted with epichlorohydrin to provide the chlorohydrin, C8Fl7SO2N(CH3)CH2CH(CH2Cl)OH. The chlorohydrin is then reacted with an octadecylisocy~late, Cl8H37NCO, to provide an interme~ tP urethane which cycliæs in the presence of base to provide the ox~70li(linQne listed above.
To pr~c; fibers for use in this invention, the polymer and fluorot~hPmic~l oxazoli~inonP are melt blende~ and then extruded into fibers using known appal~lus and processes to provide fibers having belwæll about ~ wo 94,27648 2 1 fi 2 3 7 ~ PCT/US94/05417 --3 - .
0.1-10.0 wt. % oY~7oli~linone, and more preferably between about 0.3-3.0 wt. %
oxazoli(linone. These fibers may then be used to pr~ale nonwoven, woven or knitted fabrics using known procedures. In ~ lition, extruded fibers which have been çrim~ and oven-dried may be coated with a ~ u~e of ~nti~t~tic S lubricant and fluorochPmir~l water repPllçnt and then cut into staple fibers to be used to l,re~a.~ nonwoven, woven or knitted fabrics using known procedures.

- DETAILED DESCRIPr'ION
Orthopedic casts and splints may be made from a water curable 10 resin ipreg,-~ted casting m~t~ri~l that is used in combination with a soft layer of p~1flin~ applied between the load-bearing casting m~tt~ri~l and a patient's skin. The p~lrling is used to provide cushioning and protection to the skin and is pre~,ed to be comfortable, easy to apply, non-irritating as well as quick drying. When a cast is made, generally a stretchy knit tubular stockinPtte is applied over a patient's limb, a p~ ling is then wrapped over the stockinette, and the casting m~t.ori~l is then applied over the cast padding. When a splint is made, a layer of padding alone is typically used In the present spe~ific~tinn, the following terms are defined as follows.
NWater Repellent" means the ability of a fabric to cause water to bead or be repelled from a surface as well as c~u~ing water which is m~h~ni~-~lly or otherwise forced into the fabric to readily run out, leach out or be removed from the interstices of the fabric.
"Conformability" means the ability of a fabric to easily or readily deform around an object. A qu~ntit~tive measure of conformability is provided by the HANDLE-O-METER stiffn~cs test set out in Example 2, below.
NSmooth" means the tactile feel or texture of the surface and may be co.ll~aldlively measured using a surface friction test set out in Example 3, below.
"Soft" means the subjective tactile sen~tion of the fabric on the skin. Comp~rative softness of the present invention in relation to other water repellent fabrics or dressings is described in Example 4, below.
"Hydrophobic" is a measure of the ability of the fabric to hold or absorb water on the fabric surface. A measure of hydrophobicity is provided by a measurement of a m~t~ri~l's surface energy which is readily determined wo 94/2764~ 1 ~ 2 3 7 ~ PCT/US94/05417 using the modifi~ AATCC Test l~eth~d 118-1983 set out in U.S. Patent 5,027,803. P~erel~ed dressings of this invention have surface energies less thanabout 40 erg/cm2 and more preferably less than about 30 erg/cm2.
Suitable fluoroçh~omi~l water rep~llent~ for use in the present S invention are those used in the m~mlf~rtllre of textile ar~cles. In the m~nl~f~ctl~re of textile articles, such as carpet and apparel, or for eY~mple, other fibrous ~ubsll~tes such as paper and leather, it is common to treat such ~ulJ~ tes with fluo~or~ r~l~ to impart oil and water repellency to the surface of such m~ri~l~ Suitable fluorochemi~ for this use and their application to fibrous substrates are described in various publications, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos.2,803,615 (Ahlbrecht et al.), 2,934,450 (Brown), 3,068,187 (Bolstad et al.), 3,094,547 (Heine), 3,329,661 (Smith et al.), 3,341,497 (Sherman et al.), 3,398,182 (Guenthner et al.), 3,458,571 (Tokoli), 3,462,296 (Raynolds et al.), 3,574,791 (Sherm~n et al.), 3,728,151 (ShPrm~n et al.), 3,896,251 (T~n~lcci), 3,916,053 (Sherman et al.), 4,013,627 (Temple), 4,024,178 (T~n~ucci), 4,029,585 (Dettre), 4,034,964 (Sherman et al.), 4,144,367 (Landucci), 4,160,777 (Loudas), 4,165,338 (R~t~uchim~ et al.), 4,190,545 (Marshall), 4,215,205 (T~n~ cci), 4,264,484 (Patel), 4,325,857 (Ch~mp~neri~ et al.), 4,340,749 (Patel), 4,401,780 (Steel), 4,426,476 (Chang), 4,525,305 (Patel), 4,525,423 (Lynn et al.), 4,529,658 (Schwartz et al.), 4,540,497 (Chang et al.), 4,560,487 (Brinkley), 4,564,366 (Patel), 4,565,641 (Chang et al.) 4,566,981 (Howells), 4,579,924 (Schwartz et al.), 4,582,882 (Lynn et al.), 4,606,737 (Stern), 4,668,406 (Chang), 4,668,726 (Howells) and Banks, R. E., Ed., "Organofluorine Chemif~l~ and their In~llstri~l Applications", Ellis Horwood, Ltd., West Sussex, Fn~l~n~, 226-230 (1979).
The ~fe~led fluo~ e..~ic~l water repellent is SCOTCHGARD
brand carpet pr~te~;lor (FC-359) an aqueous emnl.~ion of a fluorinated polycarbo liimi~e of the type described in U.S. Patent 4,560,487, a flllo. ;~ edemul~ifier, CH3 C8F~7SO2N (CH2) 2N (CH3) 3Cl and a fluorochPmic~l copolymer of the type generally described in U.S. Patent 3,916,053 and more specifically described in U.S. Patents 3,574,791 and 3,728,151.
Suitable hydrophilic lubricant ~nti~t~tic agents for use in the invention are any such agents conventio~lly used in the fiber industry such as Sipo Lube GS-1031, Synthetic Tnr~lstri~s, Inc., Chick~m~llg~, GA.

~WO 94/27648 21 ~ ~ 3 7 2 PCT/US94/05417 The following eY~mples provide ~lef~lled methods and procedures for pr~-ticing the present invention. These examples further illustrate various emboAim~Pnt~ of the present invention and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention which is set out in the appended claims.

E~m~le 1 - Fiber Preparation A poly~r~ylene/oY~7~ 1inone conr~ lt~ was made using a 40 mm twin screw extruder (l~estorff, Charlotte, NC) from virgin poly~l~ylene (90 wt. % polypr~lene, #3661-Fiber Grade, Fina Oil &
ChPrnit~l Co., Dallas, TXl and a fluor~h~mif~l oxa_olidinone (10 wt.%
oY~7~ inone, ODOX described above, Protective Chemi~ Division, 3M, St.
Paul, MN). The res-llting polyl,lo~ylene/oxa_olidinone concentrate (10 wt. %) was metered into a 160 mm barrier-type double flight extruder with additional poly~r~ylene (90 wt.%, #3661-Fiber Grade, Fina Oil & Chemical Co.), and the blend was melted with mixing at about 232-249C for about 1-3 minutes.
The melted Illi~Ul'~; of poly~lopylene and oxazolidinone was extruded into 3 denier fibers. The extruded fibers were crimped, oven dAed and cut to staple fibers of 3.81 cm or 4.76 cm in length. A fluorine analysis of the staple fibersin~ ~ted that the fluorochemical content of the fibers was between about 0.88-1.2 wt. ~o .
This measurement provides an index of the amount of flllorine present on a fiber. Briefly, organic fluorine is converted to inorganic fluorideion by burning a test sample in a sealed polycarbonate flask, via an electronic ignition system, in the presence of oxygen and a known volume of deionized water. The inorganic fluoride ion is absorbed into the water. The fluoride ion is measured using a fluoride ion sE~-ific electrode, Model #94-09 Fluoride Ion Electron commercially available from Orion Research Inc., Boston, MA.
The shorter 3.81 cm extruded fibers were then processed into nonwoven cast p~l~ling using standard methods by Astro-Form Corporation, Danielson, CT, using commercially available Randoweb Equipment. Padding rolls 7.62 cm and 10.16 cm wide were also ~l~ared and evaluated.
The extruded polypropylene/oxazolidinone fiber pa~ing had a lower than normal, compared to un~eated polyester p~-lding (Synthetic Cast J 35 Padding, MW 03, 3M, St. Paul, MN), tear strength as determined by m~ml~lly tearing the fabric ~rr.su.l-ably because of the fiber length. The coextruded wo 94,27~ 2 1 6 2 3 7 ~ PCT/US94/05417 ~1fling was very soft, c~nform~hle and had a very good re~ t; nre to water.
When 4.76 cm extruded fibers were used to make a p~drling the tear strength was equivalent to that of the u ,-t.~ted polyester pad-~ing.
The longer 4.76 cm extruded fibers were spun into 20 (cotton 5 count) single yarn using well-known processes by Doran Textiles, Shelby, GA.
The yarn was then knitted into stoc~inPtte rolls 5.08 cm and 7.62 cm wide by Balfour, Inc., Rockwood, TN, using commercially available circular Rib-Knit iplllellt. The poly~r~lene/oY~7nli~inone stocl~inPtte was also very soft, c4nfo~ hle and had a very good re~i~t~nce to water.
FY~mple 2 - Conformability Test This test measured the stiffnP~ or hand of a nonwoven fabric.
Confol...able fabrics were more flexible and less stiff when cG-.,pa cd to fabrics which were not as conformable. To measure the stiffnPss of a nonwoven 15 fabric, the nonwoven m~tçri~l was deformed through a restricted opening usinga plunger and the force required to do this was measured using the INDA
Standard Test, HANDLE-O-METER Stiffness Test, IST 90.3 - 92 following Lcd procedures.
The confo,...ability was measurPd for three different pi.~i~inf~.
20 An extruded polypropylene/oxazolidinone p~lrling was prcparcd from 3.81 cm fibers according to Example 1.
Surface treated p~ linp was prepared using standard polyester p;1~-1ing (Synthetic Cast Padding, MW 03, 3M, St. Paul, MN) that was dipped in a 2 wt. % aqueous fluorochemical solution (FC-270 fluorochPmir~l water 25 repellPnt 3M, St. Paul, MN). The excess fluoroc-h~prni~i~l solution was removed by wringing between two rollers and the surface treated padding was then dried in an oven at 65.6C for about 24 hours.
Ur L-eated polyester p~dding was a commercially available standard polyester p~ ling (Synthetic Cast Padding, MW 03, 3M, St. Paul, 30 MN).
The conformability data measured for the three p~d~ing~
(~mples evaluated were 7.62 cm x 15.24 cm) are provided in Table 1, below.
The data (the average force calculated from three runs) in~iri te that the extruded poly~r~ylene/oxazolidinone p~ ling was more confo,.,.able when 35 co..,~arcd to a p~dding that was surface treated with only a fluor~hrmir~l water repellrnt ~WO 9~127C48 ~ PCTIUS94/05417 PADDING AVERAGE FORCE
unlleated polyester 2~.5 g surface treated polyester 46.5 g Sextruded polypr~l)ylene/oxazolidinone blend 31 g P.~nlple 3 - Surface Friction Test This test measured the surface friction of a sample which may be 10 used to evaluate the feel of the fabric. The test involves pulling a st~inlP-~s steel boat covered with TRANSPORE tape (3M, St. Paul, MN) across a surface of the sample and m~uring the force required to move the boat. The more force ~uilcd to move the boat across the sample, the greater the surface friction of the sample. The requisite details for p~lrOl".il~g this test are described in U.S.
15 Patent 4,667,661.
The surface friction was measured for both nonwoven p~Ming and knitted storlrinettes. The extruded p~lding and stockinette were l,l~ared according to FY~mrl~ 1, above. The surface treated p~ ing and stockin~-tt~
were prt;~ d as described in Example 2. The untreated Synthetic Cast 20 Padding, MW 03, and unlleated MS 03 stor~in~tte were both available from 3M, St. Paul, MN.
The data measured for the different m~t~ns~l~ are provided in Table 2, below. The data (the average force calculated from three runs) in~ te that the extruded polypropylene/oxazolidinone pad~ing and stockinptte 25 both had greater surface friction when compared to the corresponding p~drlingor stoc~in~o-tte that was surface treated with water repellent m~t~ri~ d according to Example 2.

AVERAGE FORCE TO
PADDING MOVE BOAT
ul~r~ted polyester 68.25 ~
surface treated polyester 85.19 g extruded polyl,r~,l)ylene/oxazolidinone blend 58.10 STOCKINElT~
untreated polyester 76.51 g surface treated polyester 80.71 ~
extruded polyl .oL)ylene/oxazolidinone blend 63.80 g Wo 94/27648 216 ~ 3 7 2 ` PCTIUS94/05417 . . - ~ - --8--~ .
F~ ?le 4 - Softness Test This eY~mrle provided the results of a test panel that subjectively evaluated and col-lpa~ed the sorl-~ess of different p~ ing and stocL in~otte m~t~ri~ls In this example, three p~d-lin.~ m~t.ori~l~ (an extruded S poly~ ylene/oxazoli~linrn~ p~ ling, a surface treated p~ iin~, and an u~ cated p~ lin~ p~ ed according to Example 3) and three stoc-Li.~lles (a stoe~ e made with extruded poly~r~ylene/oxazolidinone fabric, a surface treated ~locL;,~ tte, and an unLIeated stocLin~tte also p~t;d according to FY~mrle 3) were ev~ t~
Briefly, each evaluator was asked to rank the p~rling or SI~L ;l~ette m~t~ri~l in order of softness. The identity of the m~t~.ri~l~ was not provided to the evaluators. After the m~tP.ri~ls were ranked, the ev~ tor~
were then asked to assign a softness value to the m~ l using a softness scale of 1-20, with a value of 1 being the softest and co",pa,~ble to the softness of a 15 cotton ball. The results of this evaluation are listed in Tables 3 and 4.

Padding Softness Test Softness Softness Softness Softness Softness Softness Rank Value Rank Value Rank Value Evaluator first 1-20 second 1-20 third 1-20 2 C 1 s 3 A 10 3 c lo B 14 A 19 4 C S s lo A 20 s C 2 B 4 A 10 6 C 2 B s A 10 7 c 2 s 3 Al 15 average 3.29 5.86 14.14 value M lC- A - ~urface treated polyester padding B - e~kuded polypropylene/~ 7~ lin~ nP padding C - ullh~ d polyester padding (MW 03 padding) ~Wo 94/27648 2 i 6 ~ 3 7 ~ PCT/US94/05417 g Sfockinette Softness Test Sof~ess Sohless Sof~ess SohnessSoftness Soh~ess Ranlc Value Ran~ Value Rank Value S Evaluator first 1-20 second 1-20 third 1-20 average 4.57 8.43 14.0 value r~ A - ~ t~ ~ polyester ~ (MS 03 rl~Y~
B - surface treated polyester ~ Y L ;... ~
C - e~truded pol~.u~J ¦~,.,C/~ ~7n~ ;nf~ IR

The data in Tables 3 and 4 inrlic~te that the extruded p~d-ling and stockinette are significantly softer than a surface treated p~d~ling or stoc~in~tte.

Example S - Extruded Polypropylene/Oxazolidinone Splint Padding Multi-layer immobilization splints were constructed and evaluated for water absorption and water retention.
Briefly, the bottom layer of each splint was a 30.48 cm long and 8.89 cm wide p~d~ling made either from needle-tacked poly~f~ylene/oxazolidinone fibers (99.3 wt % polyL,lo~ylene, 0.7 wt. %
oY~7~1idinone, ODOX described above, 3M, St Paul, MN) or from needle-tacked untreated polypropylene fibers. Needle-tacking was carried out using a Hunter Needletacker (Morse and Berkshire Company, North Adams, MA). Both of the above fibers were needle tacked into nonwoven felts of about 340.2 g per 0.84 square meters.
t A strip of 1.27 cm transfer tape No. 950 (3M, St. Paul, MN) was adhered to the long edges of the p~dtling and a strip of 3.81 cm transfer tape No. 927 (3M, St. Paul, MN) was adhered to the short edges of the p~r1rling, Next, eight layers of 25.4 cm long and 7.62 cm wide resin i",~l~n~t~ SCOTCHCAST 2 brand fiberglass casting tape (3M, St. Paul, 216237~

MN) was cenl~ed on the layer of p~lding. Finally, a layer of commercially available spun-laced, hydr~ gled nonwoven polyester fabric (SONTARA
8000, DuPont, Wilmington, DE treated with 2% fluoroc-h~mi~l water repell~nt FC- 270, as described in U.S. Patent 5,027,803) was adhered to the 5 ~d~ling layer using the transfer tapes.
The water absorption and retention was dete ...in~d for each splint. The splints were weighed dry, placed in a pan of water and im~
for 0.5 minute (hol~ing the splint under water if n~s~.y) while squ~.~ing twice, removing the splint from the water, sque~ing the splint twice using two 10 hands, ~en weighing again. Each splint was set in a dry pan to cure and allowed to air dry for 5 hours and weighed again.
When cured, the multiple layers of the splint bonded to~ether to form a cohesive l~min~tç and the extruded polypropylene/oxazolidinone pad-ling was softer and smoother when co--,pared to the u~ eale;d p~ ling. The splint 15 also had desirable water absorption and retention ~-o~lLies.

Splint Padding Water Absorped (%) After 5 Hours - Retained (%) 1.875 inch (4.7625 cm) 67 SS
20 pol~ u~ ,c/0~7~ in~n~ fibers needle-tacked at 128 needles/in2 3.25 inch (8.255 cm) pol~.u~ 72 61 fibers needle-tacked at 128 needles/in2 25 Percent water ~ or retained was ~ using the formula (wet splint-dry splint) ~ 100 dry splint 30 Fy~mple 6 - Lubricated Water Repellent Fibers Using the method and m~t~ lc described in Example 1, 4364 kg of polypr~ylene and 1091 kg of a ~,.ixlure of 90% polypropylene and 10%
fluoroçh~mi-~l oxazolidinone was mixed to give a 98/2 poly~l~ylene/oxazolidinone mi~lule which was extruded into 3 denier fibers.
35 The extruded fibers were crimped, oven-dried, and then treated by kiss coating using a convehlional smooth cylinder-type coating apparatus with a nli~lUr~, of 205.6 kg of a hydrophilic ~nti~t~tic lubricant Sipo Lube GS-1031 commercially available from Synthetic Tndllstrips~ Inc., Chi~m~l-g~, GA and 36.4 kg of ~ wO 94n7648 2 ~ ~ 2 ~ 7 2 p(~Tllrss4lo54l7 SCOTCHGARD brand fabric ~r~t~;l~r, FC-359, a fluorochP-mic~l n~ lur~
commercially available from 3M, St. Paul, MN. The fber was then cut as in F~mrle 1 into staple fibers 3.81 cm and 4.76 cm in length.
Some of the 3.81 cm fiber was l)roc~ into nonwoven cast S p~lclinE using a co-,ve-.t;on~1 Randoweb E~luipment by Astro-Form Co,~l~lion, n~niel~on~ CT. Padding rolls 7.62 cm and 10.2 cm wide were ple~r~d and evaluated using the mndifi~ AATCC Test Method describe~
above. The surface energy of the fibers was found to be in the range of 26.4 to 27.3 ergs/cm.
Some of the 4.76 cm fiber was spun into 20 (cotton count) single yarn using well-known pr~cesses by Southern Indl-~tri~l, Rossville, GA. The yarn was then knitted into stocl~inette rolls 5.08 cm and 7.62 cm wide by Balfour, Inc., Rockwood, TN, using commercially available circular Rib-Knit Equirment The stoc~inlotte was evaluated using the modified AATCC Test Method and found to have a surface energy in the range 26.4 to 27.3 erg/cm.

Claims

1. A water repellant orthopedic dressing comprising a soft, smooth, conformable, air-permeable, hydrophobic fabric made of polymeric fibers wherein the fibers are an extruded blend of a thermoplastic polymer and a fluorochemical oxazolidinone.

2. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester.

3. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the oxazolidinone is a compound of the formula 4. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the fabric has a surface energy of less than about 40 erg/cm2.

5. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the fabric has a surface energy of less than about 30 erg/cm2.

6. The dressing of claim 1 wherein the dressing is a nonwoven or knitted fabric.

7. The dressing of claim 1 further comprising contacting the surface of the fibers with a hydrophilic antistatic lubricant and a water repellent fluorochemical.

8. A method for manufacturing an orthopedic dressing comprising knitting or weaving fibers of an extruded blend of a polymer and a fluorochemical oxazolidinone into an orthopedic dressing.

9. An orthopedic splint comprising a multilayer resin impregnated fiberglass tape covered on at least one major surface with a padding comprising a soft, smooth, conformable, air-permeable, hydrophobic fabric of claim 1.

10. An orthopedic splint comprising a multilayer resin impregnated fiberglass tape corvered on a first major surface with a fluorochemical treated non-woven fabric and covered on second major surface with a padding comprising a soft, smooth, conformable, air-permeable, hydrophobic fabric of

claim 1.