Patent ID: 6171309
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of treating a fracture of a distal radius, comprising:installing a proximal pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel transcutaneous pins in the radius on the proximal side of the fracture;installing a distal pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel transcutaneous pins in a metacarpal on the distal side of the fracture;mounting an external fixator to the pins, the external fixator having a distal section which is mounted to the distal pins and a proximal section which is mounted to the proximal pins, the sections being separated by a selectively lockable ball joint, where the distal section includes an elongate distal member and a distal pin clamp assembly to secure the distal pins relative to the distal member, where the distal pin clamp assembly is mounted to the distal member for translational movement along the elongate axis of the distal member and for pivotal motion about a pivot axis generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the distal pins and where the proximal section includes a gear-driven adjustment to move the ball joint in the dorsal/volar direction relative to the proximal pins; andutilizing the external fixator to manipulate the pins to reduce the fracture.