A Method Preventing Circlage Wire Displacement in Intra-Operative Proximal Femoral Fractures
Year: 2007
Type: article
Abstract: method to provide traction at the knee joint while inserting a static spacer has involved manual traction.This is an impractical method.We hereby describe a handy and easy-to-apply alternative technique using an ankle sling known from ankle arthroscopy to create a steady traction at the knee joint. TECHNIQUEAfter removal of infected knee implants and debridement of infected tissue, an ankle sling is placed around the foot with the components positioned behind the tendo-Achilles and over the dorsum of the foot.The pulling string of the sling is attached ventrally to a belt around the waist of the assistant situated at the patient's feet.When the assistant leans backwards, the tibia and femur are efficiently pulled apart.The surgeon can now implant the spacer in the gap that is firmly secured by the traction (Fig. 1).The method is comfortable for both surgeon and assistant.Maintaining tension and alignment, while the cement sets, is easy. DISCUSSIONThis is an easy method to obtain proper limb alignment and force of traction for insertion of a static spacer in the knee joint.The advantages are: (i) the traction created is steady and easily applied; (ii) it is inexpensive; and (iii) it secures a suitably shaped and sized spacer.Preformed moulds for creating moveable spacers intra-operatively are commercially available.These have the advantage of allowing early ROM-exercises, but these moveable spacers are often impractical.
Authors: S Hoskinson, I Gill, P Fadero
Institution: Croydon University Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1636997442