An olive wire used in an Ilizarov construct differs from a plain transfixion wire in that it:

• A Has a larger diameter and therefore breaks less often
• B Cannot be tensioned across the ring
• C Is reserved exclusively for skeletal traction in fracture care
• D Has a bead that abuts the cortex, allowing a directed pulling force to be applied to a bone fragment ✓

Explanation

The olive wire carries a small cylindrical bead near its tip that catches against the cortex, so tensioning the wire pulls the attached bone fragment in a chosen direction. This allows control of translation, reduction of fragments, and closure of gaps such as a docking site. Olive wires are the same calibre as plain wires and are tensioned identically; the bead, not the gauge, provides the directional force.

Reference: Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics, 14th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.