Hoffman II External Fixator Techniques – A Work-Around to use Small Pins in Large Clamps

We describe a novel technique to allow use of small pins in medium pin size clamps. Slipping a second 3 mm pin into the same clamp hole as the first allows the 5 mm clamp to bite securely on a 3 mm pin. This enables construction of an external fixator frame utilising 3 mm and 5 mm pins, as required to span the elbow, wrist and ankle. This extends the capabilities of the 5 mm clamp and reduces the need for extra materiel such as sets containing clamps to connect 3 mm pins to standard size rods.