Orthopedic bone wire intended to become part of an assembly of non-sterile devices designed to stabilize fractured bones to promote treatment and healing. It typically consists of an external plastic and/or metallic fixator (a framework) and other external and/or implantable components such as clamps, rods, rings, pins, bolts, and nuts, as well as some reusable instrumentation (e.g., wrenches, depth gauge, tensioner). It is used mainly to help the healing of long bones such as the femur, tibia and humerus, as well as fractures of the foot and ankle, joint fusions, and limb lengthening. This is a single-use device intended to be sterilized prior to use.
A wire intended for the fixation of bone fractures that may be implanted or used short-term (e.g., to hold a plate in the correct position during an intervention). It may be used: 1) as a cerclage wire to aid bone fixation; 2) in a loop or figure-of-eight configuration to reattach, e.g., the tip of the elbow (olecranon), tibial tubercle, or greater trochanter; 3) to augment bone screw/plate fixation; or 4) as a Kirschner wire or K-Wire to stiffen (arthrodese) a toe or finger. It is made of metal [e.g., stainless steel, cobalt-chrome (Co-Cr)], and may be malleable or rigid; some types include a nut designed to be attached to the wire to prevent wire migration. This is a single-use device.