Author: Foot Doc
Date: 9/28/2007 6:38 pm PDT
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DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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Fixation is only useful until the osteotomy has healed. There are many choices of materials and techniques which can achieve the required fixation. The determination as to which method of and materials employed in fixation is dependent upon the individual surgeon's comfort with, experience in using and confidence in that method and material. When effectively employed, unless there are some special considerations peculiar to you or your case which dictates the preferential use of one or another, it doesn't matter which method and what materials had been selected for use. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, but any of the methods can achieve the desired results, which in your case is good union at the osteotomy site. Certainly, one of the drawbacks of using screws is that, on occasion, conditions arise necessitating their removal. But on the other hand, they provide compression of the osteotomy site over and above that which K-Wires are capable. I would not make my choice of surgeons based of the type of fixation to be employed, as that is not a decision which the patient is capable of making. Better to spend your time vetting the doctor who will be performing the surgery. |
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