Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General product information, not medical advice. Casting and padding decisions belong to the treating clinician.
Short answer
Stockinette is a tubular knit fabric. In knitting it names a stitch; in orthopaedic care it is the tubular sleeve worn against the skin under cast padding. FDA lists cast stockinette under product code ITG, “Bandage, Cast”, a Class I, non-sterile, single-use device.
Stockinette in knitting versus medicine
The word has two common meanings. This page covers the medical product, usually called cast stockinette or orthopedic stockinette. The two meanings share a fabric construction, not a use: the knitting sense is a pattern of knit and purl rows, while the medical sense is a roll of tubular fabric sold by width and length.
What cast stockinette is and how FDA lists it
The MSD Manual Professional describes a cast as usually consisting of a soft fabric sleeve on the skin, with a layer of soft padding over it, followed by the casting material. Stockinette is that skin-side sleeve.
In FDA’s device database (GUDID, as served by openFDA, updated 2026-10-01), 13 records with the brand name “stockinette” share the same classification:
- Product code ITG, device name “Bandage, Cast”, device class 1.
- Regulation number 21 CFR 890.3025, “Prosthetic and orthotic accessory”, defined as a device intended for medical purposes to support, protect, or aid in the use of a cast, orthosis (brace), or prosthesis.
- Class I (general controls); the regulation exempts these devices from premarket notification (510(k)), subject to the limits in 21 CFR 890.9.
- All 13 records are marked not sterile and single-use. GMDN terms are “Cast stockinette” or “Stockinette”.
The regulation text does not name stockinette; the link comes from the product code assigned in the device listings.
Stockinette sizes and materials in FDA listings
FDA does not publish a single size chart for stockinette. What the FDA listings do show is how two labelers describe their products. Treat this as listing data, not as an industry standard.
| Labeler | Product name words | Widths listed | Roll length | Latex labeling in record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird & Cronin, LLC | Polyester; poly-cotton | Polyester: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 in. Poly-cotton: 2, 3, 4, 6 in. | 25 yd | No latex statement flagged either way |
| Dynarex Corporation | Cotton Stockinette | 2, 3, 4, 6 in. | 25 yd | Labeled as not made with natural rubber latex |
Source: openFDA device UDI records for brand name “stockinette”, checked 2026-10-30. openFDA itself cautions against relying on it for decisions about medical care.
Orthopedic stockinette and cast stockinette
“Cast stockinette” is the GMDN term used in the Bird & Cronin records, and “orthopedic stockinette” is the descriptive phrase suppliers use for the same tubular sleeve. Matching a width to a body part is a clinical choice for the treating clinician, so this page does not give one.
Stockinette as a supply line item
Stockinette is a separate line item from padding and from casting material. See how it appears in a sports medicine clinic supply checklist, and for related items read what a splint is and shower covers for casts. The birthing center supply checklist mentions stockinette caps for newborns, a different use of the same fabric.
Common misunderstandings
- It is not cast padding. Padding is the soft layer over the sleeve; stockinette is the tubular layer against the skin.
- It is not a supporting bandage. FDA’s code is called “Bandage, Cast”, but the regulation lists the product as an accessory that aids the use of a cast.
- It is single-use and non-sterile in every one of the 13 FDA records.
- The knitting stitch is a different topic.
FAQ
What is stockinette?
A tubular knit fabric. In medicine it is the sleeve worn under cast padding; FDA lists it as a Class I, non-sterile, single-use cast bandage (product code ITG).
What are stockinette sizes?
FDA device listings from Bird & Cronin and Dynarex show widths of 1 to 6 inches on 25-yard rolls. These are two labelers’ listings, not a standard size set.
Is there a stockinette size chart?
There is no official chart matching width to body part. The table above shows what the listings state.
What is orthopedic stockinette?
The tubular fabric sleeve used under orthopaedic casts; it is the same product family as cast stockinette.
What is cast stockinette used for?
It forms the soft layer against the skin beneath cast padding, per the MSD Manual Professional.
Sources
- MSD Manual Professional, “How To Apply a Cast” (J. Y. McCue, MD; reviewed March 2026), https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/injuries-poisoning/how-to-do-casting-procedures/how-to-apply-a-cast, checked 2026-10-30.
- 21 CFR 890.3025, Prosthetic and orthotic accessory, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/890.3025, checked 2026-10-30.
- openFDA device UDI (GUDID) records, brand name “stockinette”, last updated 2026-10-01, https://api.fda.gov/device/udi.json?search=brand_name:stockinette&limit=13, checked 2026-10-30.
