Tropical Doctor > Tropical Doctor Online First > 10.1258/td.2009.090161

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Methods and Devices

A simple technique for the placement of Schanz screws into bone using minimal radiologic control

A Lerner MD PhD   ^*   A L Akinyoola MBBch FWACS       M Soudry MD   ^*

^* Department of Orthopaedic Surgery A, Rambam Medical Center and Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Correspondence to: Dr A L Akinyoola, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria Email: aakinyoola{at}yahoo.co.uk

The insertion of Schanz screws into the bone during external-fixation procedures in trauma and elective orthopaedic surgery is usually done under röentgenologic control. In order to minimize irradiation exposure for the patients, as well as surgeons, we describe a simple method of Schanz screw placement. The röentgenologic control of the position of the half-pins is only necessary at the beginning and the end of the procedure. This technique is simple, shortens the operating time and reduces the amount of radiation exposure to both the patient and surgeon. It is a valuable technique in many resource-poor environments who do not have the facilities for an image intensifier fluoroscopy or C-arm as well as in austere situations such as during military operations.

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