Orthopedic Hardware - Part 2
Musculoskeletal
Suture anchors are small screws that insert into bone and contain an eyelet through which a suture is threaded. They are commonly used in repair of shoulder rotator cuff injuries.
Intramedullary nails are rods placed through the intramedullary cavity of a long bone. If supported by affixing screws, they are termed interlocking nails.
External fixators are used for open fractures, fractures associated with infected wounds, and for rapid fixation of unstable fractures in polytrauma.
Hip arthroplasties that involve acetabular and femoral head replacement are termed total hip arthroplasty. In hemiarthroplasty, the femoral head is replaced but the acetabulum is preserved.
Unipolar hemiarthroplasties have a single component.
Bipolar hemiarthroplasties have a smaller internal sphere within the larger femoral head prosthesis. Prostheses can be cemented or noncemented and are often supported by acetabular screws.
Shoulder prostheses can be manufactured either with the socket replacing the glenoid or with the socket replacing the humeral head. The latter is termed a reverse shoulder arthroplasty.
Knee prostheses include femoral, tibial, and dorsal patellar components.