FRACTURE FIXATION - PIN AND CERCLAGE TECHNIQUES

摘要

Cerclage wires are ancillary fixation devices. They are made of pliable stainless steel. They come in different diameters, from 27g (gauge) to 14 g. The sizes most often used in small animal surgery are from 22g (0.025in, 0.64mm), 20g (0.032in, 0.81mm) to 18g (0.04in, 1.0mm), 16g (0.049in, 1.25mm).The term "cerclage" means to encircle. The wire is placed around the bone and is tightened to provide static interfragmentary compression of the fragments. Cerclage wires are called "full cerclage" when they completely surround the bone fragments. They are called "hemicerclage" when they are passed through holes drilled into one fragment of the bone the bone and encircle the other fragment and are called interfragmentary wires when they are passed through a hole in each of the fragments.Cerclage wires are never used as the sole method of fixation as the last wire would serve as a stress riser and cause a pathologic fracture. In order to effectively compress the bone fragments, the full cylinder of bone MUST be reconstructed anatomically. Any defect in the cortex or movement of any of the fragments under the wire will automatically and irreversibly result in loosening of the wire and loss of the entire reduction.