Final answer:
Half Pins used in orthopedic surgery to decrease the stiffness of an external frame and encourage bone healing at a fracture site are known as load-sharing pins. The term 'pinning' refers to the process of stabilizing fractures with metal rods, and 'load-sharing' implies the distribution of mechanical load for optimal healing conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Half Pins placed parallel to a fracture in order to decrease frame stiffness and encourage compression across a fracture/deformity site are referred to as load-sharing pins.
In medicine, particularly in orthopedic surgery, pinning is a technique used to stabilize fractures by inserting metal rods called pins into the bone on either side of the fracture. The purpose of using half pins, as opposed to full pins that go through the entire diameter of the bone, is to reduce the rigidity of the external frame. This allows for some micro-movements at the fracture site that can enhance bone healing by promoting callus formation.
The term "load-sharing" indicates that the mechanical load is being distributed between the bone and the external support system, which helps to optimize healing conditions for the fracture.