ABSTRACT
Hinged external fixation of the elbow is used to maintain alignment of the joint and permit motion. The fixator serves as temporary scaffolding, permitting the motion of flexion and extension, while preventing dislocation. The concept of an articulating fixator about the elbow is based on the fact that normal ulnohumeral kinematics approximates a simple hinged joint. Therefore, recreating the anatomic axis of rotation with a hinged fixator allows for aligned ulnohumeral motion, thereby reducing the risk of excessive and potentially disruptive loads on healing bone or ligaments. In addition to neutralizing the joint reaction loads, distraction can also be applied for the theoretical benefit of providing separation of several millimeters after inserting the resurfacing material following distraction arthroplasty.
