title: [AO external mini-fixateur for the hand bones. Surgical technique and initial experiences].
abstract: Fractures of the hand and fingers showing comminution or associated soft-tissue lesions are best treated with external fixation. In contrast to other systems, the new AO mini-external fixator enables less bulky unilateral fixation facilitating early mobilisation and the special design of the double clamps allows preliminary intraoperative stabilisation with only one wire in each fragment. Modular fixation makes free placement of the wires possible with accommodation of bone and soft tissue lesions. Twenty patients with hand injuries showed uneventful soft tissue healing and there were no cases of non-union in 19 metacarpal and phalangeal fractures.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Hand- und periphere Nervenchirurgie, Department Chirurgie, Kantonsspital Basel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fricker
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Thomann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Troeger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004867:Equipment Design; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography