| Abstract: | A new screwdriver is presented with which small titanium screws can be introduced into a joint under arthroscopic guidance. The screws are centrally cannulated, 2.7 mm thick (thread diameter), and available with and without a washer (5 mm in diameter, serrated and convex, flexible but not removable). The screwdriver has a special screw-holding device which allows the screw to be grasped and released making it possible to remove a screw already implanted in the joint at an earlier time. This arthroscopic screwing system has been used in 81 cases to date. In 59 patients with shoulder instability, arthroscopic refixation of the detached labrum-capsule complex was performed. In the first 32 of these cases an intra-articular screwing technique was used and in the following 27 cases an extra-articular screwing technique was applied. In addition, in 9 patients a fractured and displaced greater tuberosity was reduced and fixated percutaneously under the guidance of an image intensifier by means of this screwdriver. Other fields of application were the knee joint (type III fracture of the intercondylar eminence in 5 patients) and the ankle (displaced fracture of the talus in 2 patients and osteochondritis dissecans in 1). Complications were seen only in the patients with shoulder instability who were treated by the intra-articular screwing technique (screw loosening in 4 patients). This was the reason why the intra-articular technique was replaced by the extra-articular method. Since that time no further complications caused by the screws have been seen. Redislocation of the shoulder joint occurred in 1 case 7 months after operation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
