Clinical orthopaedics and related research
-
Flexible wire and small pins cause minimal disturbance of osseous blood supply, and introduce minimal foreign material into the wound. Supplemental support by a plaster cast or by traction is required, but the external support can generally be discontinued early for joint mobilization. Several simple auxillary fixation devices extend the usefulness of wire fixation. ⋯ Autogenous iliac cancellous chips provide minimal and effective internal fixation for an infected ununited fracture of the tibia. The surgical instrument most important for making wire fixation highly successful is a tightener-twister which protects wire loops from excessive strain during application, and permits twisting at a predetermined and therefore reproducible tension. Other special and ordinary instruments are valuable assets.
-
Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jan 1975
A simple technique for internal fixation of the clavicle. A long term evaluation.
A simple, effective technique for internal fixation of the clavicle with Knowles threaded pins is described in 11 patients with 1 to 21 year results. The method is applicable to fresh fractures of non-union and provides secure compression-fixation. The threads prevent migration of the pin, reduce the period of external immobilization, and obviate the need for removal of the pin.
-
A repair of the pectoralis major avulsion injury to the tendinous insertion into the humerus was successfully performed 6 months after the initial injury. The critical clinical observation was the presence of some intact tendon. In order to properly test for the presence of this tendon, it is necessary to abduct the arm so an attenuated band will be under tension. The presence of any remaining tendon is a favorable factor in consideration of delayed repair of this injury because it may have prevented full retraction of the muscle mass.