TRAPEZIO-LUNATE EXTERNAL FIXATION FOR SCAPHOID FRACTURES - AN EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL-STUDY

Trapezio-lunate external fixation for scaphoid fractures has been inve stigated experimentally and clinically. Six below-elbow fresh amputati on specimens in which proximal, waist and distal scaphoid fractures we re created, displaced, reduced and externally fixed were used for an e xperimental study and after 10,000 extension-flexion movements of the wrist, no displacement was observed. A strain-gauge study confirmed th e strains at the fracture site. Seven patients were treated in this wa y. No immobilization was necessary and all patients returned to their regular employment within 3 days acid all fractures were united withou t displacement. The technique overcomes certain disadvantages of plast er fixation and internal fixation of scaphoid fractures.