A mechanical comparison of the immediate stability of three fixation devices used in wrist arthrodesis: a cadaveric study.

This study was designed to determine which of 3 fixation devices used in wrist arthrodesis provides the greatest immediate stability along 2 axes of movement. Twenty cadaver wrists were mechanically tested. Group 1 consisted of 7 wrists stabilized using a 2.3-mm Steinmann pin. Six wrists from the second group were immobilized with a 9-hole, 3.5-mm AO dynamic compression plate. The third group consisted of 7 wrists stabilized with an 8-hole, short-bend, precontoured low-contact dynamic compression plate. Stiffness and fracture force were determined in both forced flexion and forced pronation. The results showed that the Steinmann pin was the least stable of the 3 constructs in both axes of movement. No differences were observed between the 2 compression plates for either of the 2 axes of movement.