title: Biomechanical comparison of five external wrist fixators.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kummer
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Egol
authors.forename: Nirmal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tejwani
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolinsky
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Koval
mesh_terms: 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*