Patient Benefits: A discussion guide for you and your doctor
Your doctor is the most qualified person to determine the best treatments for your broken wrist. But, if your wrist requires surgery and you would like to discuss the benefits of MICRONAIL® Intramedullary Distal Radius Fixation with your surgeon, please print this information and bring it to your next appointment.
Key benefits of repairing your broken wrist with the MICRONAIL® II Implant are:
Less-invasive surgery
The procedure helps to preserve soft tissue, as compared to the more invasive surgical approach related to traditional volar plating, which can require a much larger 5-6" incision.
Reduced soft tissue & tendon irritation
Possible complications associated with wrist plating are tissue irritation or tendon rupture. This can occur due to screws that are too long or as a result of the edge of the plate being placed too close to the tendon.The MICRONAIL® II implant is placed entirely within the wrist bone during surgery. This is referred to as "Zero Profile".
Having the MICRONAIL® implant housed completely within the bone, not on top, provides stability to the broken bone while minimizing the possibility of irritation to surrounding tissue.
Faster patient recovery*
Traditional "plating" treatment options require a larger incision which results in more soft tissue damage and may not provide the desired level of flexibility / wrist function as quickly as MICRONAIL® Fixation. Generally, the longer it takes a patient to start moving his or her wrist, the slower the recovery.
Few patients require a cast after surgery. Most only wear a splint for a short time, and may not require professional hand therapy. This allows patients to return to normal activities quickly. (Source: CORR, April 2006)
*Data on file. As compared to volar plates at 6 months.
