Operative Technique for the Threaded External Fixator

Abstract

In most external fixation systems, the pin groups are connected to the external rods by universal joints, which enables them to be clamped in various orientations. By contrast, the threaded external fixator has no universal joints, and so the pin groups occupy a common plane. This gives the threaded fixator a relatively simple geometry, and the device lacks the cluttered, often confused appearance of many other systems. The absence of universal joints may seem disadvantageous at first, but this is offset by the advantages of enhanced stability and a clear operative concept.