title: External fixation of the distal radius: to predrill or not to predrill.
abstract: Using both clinical and laboratory studies we investigated whether predrilling before insertion of external fixation pins is necessary for use in treating distal radius fractures. Our clinical study included 50 consecutive external fixators (4.0- and 2.5-mm pins) using 100 predrilled and 100 direct-drilled pins placed in a randomized manner. There was no increased incidence of pin track infection or other pin problem with the direct-drilled technique. There were, however, significantly elevated temperatures with the direct-drilled technique. We therefore recommend predrilling even though the temperature differences in this bone with this fixator were not clinically evident.
authors: Department of Orthopedics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
authors: D T
authors: DT
authors: Hutchinson
authors: K N
authors: KN
authors: Bachus
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Higgenbotham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects; D002102:Cadaver; D016267:External Fixators / Q000009:adverse effects; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011884:Radius / Q000601:surgery*; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors