Custom-Made Finger Guard to Prevent Wire-Stick Injury to the Operator's Finger while Performing Intermaxillary Fixation

Abstract

The treatment of maxillofacial fractures involves different methods from bandages and splinting to methods of open reduction and internal fixation and usually requires control of the dental occlusion with the help of intermaxillary fixation (IMF). Different wiring techniques have been used to aid in IMF including placement of custom-made arch bars, eyelet etc. However, these wiring techniques are with a constant danger of trauma to the surgeon's fingers by their sharp ends. Though there exist a variety of commercially available barrier products and customized techniques to prevent wire-stick injury, cost factor, touch sensitivity, and comfort aspect restrain their acquirement and exploit. This technical note describes the construction of a simple and economical finger guard made of soft thermoplastic material that provides an added protection to fingers from wire-stick type injuries, and its flexible nature permits a comfortable finger flexion movement and acceptable touch sensitivity. This is a simple, economical, reusable puncture, and cut-resistance figure guard by which we can avoid wire-stick type injury to the operator's fingers during wiring technique.