Techniques in hand & upper extremity surgery
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Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg · Mar 2006
ARM: a modular hinged joint for the AO tubular external fixator.
Certain complex traumatic elbow lesions challenge the orthopaedic and trauma surgeon. If they are not treated correctly, they cause a high rate of disability, arising from elbow instablility and stiffness, either by fibrosis or joint incongruity. Injuries such as complex fractures of the proximal third of the ulna, coronoid fractures associated with radial head fractures (the "terrible triad"), are even worse if they are accompanied by soft tissue lesions. ⋯ It can be concluded that good results can be obtained in injuries with severe elbow instability and soft tissue lesions, using this hinged external fixator. With this new clamp, the AO tubular external fixator is transformed into a hinged one and a new use is added to this already very versatile system. This clamp is very easy to apply.