Biomechanical comparison of five external wrist fixators.
The relative stiffness of five different external wrist fixators currently in use for distal radius fractures was determined using a uniform fracture model consisting of wood dowels to isolate the effects of the fixators themselves. Each construct was loaded in axial compression, eccentric and cantilever modes of bending, and torsion. The stiffest of the fixators varied by a factor of three in compression, five in bending, and three in torsion. Although the ideal stiffness of a wrist fixator is unknown, there is a large variation in the stiffness of existing devices.
Chang
David
D
NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York, New York 10003, USA.
Kummer
Frederick J
FJ
Egol
Ken
K
Tejwani
Nirmal
N
Wolinsky
Philip
P
Koval
Kenneth J
KJ
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D016267:External Fixators / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D019415:Torque; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000628:therapy*