Medical Aid International External Fixation Package

Any locally available 4.5 or 5.0 mm diameter self-drilling Schanz Screws and compatible modular external fixator hardware and instruments can be used for this skills training module.

Orthopaedic conditions and their treatment in low and middle income countries (LMICs) are one of the ‘Cinderella’s’ of medical and indeed surgical care, a situation that can lead to a lifetime of disability and pain.^[1] Surprisingly, this is not necessarily due to a lack of surgical ability, but more a total lack of supporting infrastructure and a reliable, informed supply chain.

Orthopaedics International, which is part of the Medical Aid International family, has worked diligently with their partners to develop solutions suitable for LMICs. Their aim is to create a sustainable, holistic approach, to provide quality orthopaedic equipment and implants in order to deliver a solution that works for the long term.

Orthopaedics International has introduced a cost effective solution for fracture treatment which includes the Arbutus Medical HEX Drill Kit alongside a full range of external fixation implants in one easy-to-use kit.^[2]

Medical Aid International External Fixation Package

#	Item	Quantity	Function	Product Code	Reusable for Simulation Training
1	Arbutus Medical HEX Drill Kit or any powered orthopedic surgical drill that is compatible with 5.0 mm diameter self-drilling Schanz screws (not shown in image)	1	Drives Schanz Screw into fracture fragment, also referred to as "power drive"	MEDAIDHEXKIT	Yes
2	Chuck Key for Surgical Drill (not shown in image)	1	Used to tighten or loosen the drill over the Schanz screw	MEDAIDHEXKIT	Yes
3	Self-Drilling Schanz Screws, 5.0 mm x 200 mm x 30 mm	4	Inserted into fracture fragments, also referred to as "pins" and "half-pins"	1625.053	No; re-using Schanz Screws may cause mechanical failure of the 3D Printed Tibial Bone Models
4	Triple Drill Sleeve Assembly, 5.0 mm (consisting of an inner trochar, middle drill sleeve and outer cannula components)	1	Protects the soft tissue when drilling Schanz Screws; only the drill sleeve (and not the trocar and cannula) is required for drilling into the subcutaneous tibia	4213.001	Yes
5	Jacobs Chuck T-Handle	1	Allows for manual advancement of the Schanz Screw to the desired depth	4213.001	Yes
6	Chuck Key for Jacobs Chuck T-handle	1	Used to tighten or loosen the Jacobs Chuck T-Handle over the Schanz screw	MEDAIDHEXKIT	Yes
7	Universal Clamp (Single Pin)	4	Combines pin-to-rod	4201	Yes
8	Connecting Rod, 11 mm x 250 mm	2	Links pins with clamps, available in several sizes	4206.01	Yes
9	Rod-to-Rod Connector	2	Combines rod-to-rod	4215	Yes
10	Connecting Rod, 11 mm x 200 mm	1	Links pins with clamps, available in several sizes	4206.008	Yes
11	11 mm Spanner with T Handle	1	Assists in final tightening of clamps	4223.011	Yes

6.0 mm self-drilling Schanz Screws may be used for open tibial shaft fractures that require a more rigid construct.[3] For the purpose of surgical simulation skills training, 5.0 mm or 4.5 mm diameter self-drilling Schanz Screws should be used because the 3D Printed Tibial Bone Models cannot mechanically tolerate a 6.0 mm diameter self-drilling Schanz Screw.

Advance Planning for Orders[edit | edit source]

The Medical Aid International External Fixation Package is usually imported in low to middle income countries. Please plan to order this package well in advance of your simulation training activity to account for international shipping and customs processing timelines.

Acknowledgements[edit | edit source]

This work is funded by a grant from the Intuitive Foundation. Any research, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this work are those of the author(s), and not of the Intuitive Foundation.

References[edit | edit source]