title: A cheap, disposable external fixator for comminuted phalangeal fractures.
abstract: Reduction of a severely comminuted fracture of a long bone in the hand can be difficult to hold. An external fixator can be the best method of maintaining satisfactory reduction in such fractures. A small, disposable external fixator is described, made from a syringe barrel and K-wires. It allows accurate reduction with minimal soft tissue trauma and is easy to construct and apply. It allows early mobilization of the digit and is inexpensive.
authors.affiliation: Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Godwin
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Arnstein
mesh_terms: D001864:Bone Wires; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D016267:External Fixators; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013594:Syringes