Procedure steps- Ex Fix simulation
- Use a drill bit to create a hole in both near & far ‘cortices’ on the lateral end of one pipe piece. DO NOT PENETRATE THE WOOD
- Insert the first blunt tip Schanz pin- only allow the tip to just penetrate the four cortices
- Repeat step 1 in the medial position of the same pipe piece, just next to the fracture site
- Clip the 1st rod onto both pins using the pin-to-rod connectors
- Repeat on the other bone fragment (pipe piece), making sure you DO NOT PENETRATE THE WOOD
- Connect both the rods with a 3rd rod using the rod-to-rod connector and tighten all nuts, except for x1 on the rod-to-rod connector to allow movement of the bones
- Realign the bones by pulling the rods and tightening the final nut
- Self-assessment- take apart the ex-fix and check if the wood was penetrated using the blunt Schanz pin. If the wood was not penetrated, this is a pass.