Background/Aim: In extensive soft tissue injury, primary internal fracture fixation is not always possible and external fixation for primary immobilization plays an important role. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of freehand technique and of a target device for retrograde calcaneotibial fixation in an uninjured bone and an unstable ankle fracture. Materials and Methods: The calcaneotibial fixation was performed randomly by an experienced surgeon utilizing either a freehand drilling technique or a novel targeting device in four human cadavers before and after producing a bimalleolar ankle fracture. The duration of foot positioning, drilling, number of intensifier shots, and drilling attempts were recorded. The final position of the wire was established using IsoC-3D scan. Results: The mean for definitive wire placement with the target device was 247 sec with a mean of 3.4 attempts, and 92 sec and 2.1 attempts in the freehand technique. Mean intraosseous distance of the K-wire was 45.3 mm and 63.6 mm in the tibia and 39.7 mm and 41.5 mm in the calcaneus respectively. Conclusion: The novel target device for calcaneotibial fixation achieves similar results to a trained surgeon using the freehand technique.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.