THE MICROTIP INTRAMEDULLARY PROBE FOR INTRAOPERATIVE PRESSURE MEASUREMENT

The implantation of femoral stem prostheses and intramedullary fractur e stabilisation are well-established techniques in traumatology. Altho ugh the biomechanical advantages of intramedullary splinting are obvio us, impairments of pulmonary circulation and respiratory function are typical and feared complications. These pulmonary disturbances are str ikingly correlated with operation-induced intramedullary hypertension. A simple, low-invasive and reliable system for the measurement of int ramedullary pressure is presented. At the heart of the system is a mic rotip probe, transforming changes of pressure into electric impulses, filtered and amplified in a pressure measuring system (PMS).