A method to remove stuck external fixator half pins

Half pins used with external fixators can be difficult to remove, particularly if they have a smooth shaft or a hydroxyapatite coated thread.1,2 Drill chucks can become worn and often slip on smooth pins, and removal tools do not work when there is no bevelled edge on collarless half pins. We recommend bolting a five-hole rancho cube to a 5mm or 6mm half pin to provide a long lever arm for quick and easy removal of half pins that have become stuck in a long bone. Figure 1 Clinical photograph illustrating the use of a five-hole rancho cube to remove a 6mm half pin