A mechanical comparison of the immediate stability of three fixation devices used in wrist arthrodesis: A cadaveric study

This study was designed to determine which of 3 fixation devices used in wr ist arthrodesis provides the greatest immediate stability along 2 axes of m ovement. Twenty cadaver wrists were mechanically tested. Group 1 consisted of 7 wrists stabilized using a 2.3-mm Steinmann pin. Six wrists from the se cond group were immobilized with a-hole, 3.5-mm AO dynamic compression plat e. The third group consisted of 7 wrists stabilized with an 8-hole, short-b end, precontoured low-contact dynamic compression-plate, Stiffness and frac ture force were determined in both forced flexion and forced pronation. The results showed that the Steinmann pin was the least stable of the 3 constr ucts in both axes of movement. No differences were observed between the 2 c ompression plates for either of the 2 axes of movement. (I Hand Surg 1999;2 4A:828-834. Copyright (C) 1999 by the American Society for Surgery of the H and.).