At. Berman et al., Compression arthrodesis of the ankle by triangular external fixation: Biomechanical and clinical evaluation, ORTHOPEDICS, 22(12), 1999, pp. 1129-1134
This article describes a technique of ankle arthrodesis using a triangular
external fixation frame and presents the results of biomechanical analysis
and clinical experience with the frame. Clinical evaluation of 23 ankle art
hrodeses performed using a triangular external fixation frame yielded a 91.
3% fusion rate at an average of 11 weeks postfusion. The triangular frame w
as 79% stiffer than a compression-only external frame in torsion and 39% st
iffer in anteroposterior bending. This high rate of fusion is attributed to
the elimination of micromotion at the fusion site because of the increased
rigidity of the triangular external compression frame.