The accuracy of fine wire tensioners: a comparison of five tensioners used in hybrid and ring external fixation.

Abstract

To compare the accuracy of 5 commonly available fine wire tensioners used in hybrid and ring external fixation. A laboratory investigation. The testing of 5 commonly available tensioners was performed with a servohydraulic test frame (MTS Bionix 858, Minneapolis, MN). The real wire tension data of each tensioner provided by the MTS were compared with corresponding nominal values. The percent error for each tensioner was calculated. Clinical ease of usage of the wire tensioners was also evaluated. The EBI tensioner was the most accurate (-0.17% to 0.09% error). The Smith and Nephew tensioner had a -13.97% to -8.61% error, the How medica tensioner a -12.48% to -10.86% error, and the Synthes tensioner a -0.2% to 24.28% error. The DePuyACE tensioner was the least accurate, with errors ranging from -36.76% to -30.92%. The Howmedica tensioner was the easiest to use, followed by the Smith and Nephew tensioner, the DePuyACE tensioner, the Synthes tensioner, and the EBI tensioner. Most commonly available tensioners tend to undertension. Future efforts should focus on the development of wire tensioners that combine accuracy and ease of usage.