How a Special Herbert Screw Functions

Core Design Elements at Work

• Cannulated Design for Precision: The screw’s hollow core, or cannulation, is a key feature. A thin guidewire can be threaded through this passageway first. This guidewire acts like a navigational path, leading the screw right to the spot in the bone where it’s needed for optimal fixation. It drastically cuts down on the margin of error during placement, ensuring surgeons can target the precise location required.
• Variable Thread Pitch for Fixation: The threads on the screw don’t have a uniform spacing. Near the tip, they’re closer together, which helps the screw get a firm initial grip on the bone as it starts to penetrate. As you move towards the head end, the wider spacing comes into play. This differential spacing generates compression as the screw is inserted deeper, squeezing the fractured bone fragments snugly together to create a stable and secure hold.
• Headless Profile for Minimized Irritation: Lacking a protruding head, the Special Herbert Screw is less likely to rub against or irritate the surrounding soft tissues. This also makes it a great fit for intra-articular use, broadening its applicability across many orthopedic operations where a less obtrusive implant is preferable.
• Biocompatibility for Body Acceptance: Usually crafted from biocompatible materials such as titanium, the screw is well-tolerated by the body. The material not only doesn’t trigger a rejection response but actively encourages bone cells to grow onto and around it, integrating the screw into the natural bone structure over time.

The Surgical Procedure Sequence

1. Incision: A small, minimally invasive cut is made directly over the area of the fracture, setting the stage for the implantation process.
2. Guidewire Insertion: A guidewire is carefully threaded through this incision and into the bone. It maps out the correct trajectory for the screw to follow.
3. Pilot Hole Creation: A cannulated drill, which can slide over the guidewire, is used to bore a small, precise pilot hole. This prepares the bone for the screw insertion.
4. Screw Placement: Finally, the Special Herbert Screw is inserted over the guidewire. As it goes in, it compresses the bone fragments, leveraging its variable thread pitch to lock them firmly in place, achieving a stable and lasting fixation.