Hofmann D, Burger H, Hild P
Unfallchirurgie. 1980;6(1):1-6. doi: 10.1007/BF02589443.
The Fixateur externe was investigated under vertical and eccentric load when the fracture line was compressed and the distance of support was changed. Three kinds of mounting were used: R (Fixateur externe as frame), Z (three dimensional Fixateur externe) and Z2S (three dimensional Fixateur externe with two screws according to Schanz). If the distance of outer support was increased, the stability became greatly reduced. A compression increased the stability around the fracture line and on the free end of the system. A compression force of 10 kp at the fracture line yielded the greatest increase in stability. If in case of the methods R and Z, the compression was increased beyond 70 kp, there resulted even an instability, which depended on the distance of support. The most stable method of mounting was the three-dimensional Fixateur externe with two screws according to Schanz. The stability was compared if there was either a defect or a compression at the line of the fracture: there resulted a strikingly increased instability, if the distance of support was increased. The compression made it possible to compensate partly for the loss of stability.