The invention relates to a connecting rod (10) for an external fixation device comprising: a telescopic housing (300) having a housing body, wherein a first portion of the housing body comprises a first axial bore defined therethrough, and a second portion of the housing body comprises a second axial bore defined therethrough, the first and second axial bores having first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, and further wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are parallel and coplanar； first and second sleeves (302, 304) slidably disposed within the first and second axial bores, respectively, the first sleeve (302) having an adjustment mechanism (314) rotatably disposed on an end portion of the first sleeve (302)； and an elongated member (318) threadably coupled to the adjustment mechanism (314), wherein rotating the adjustment mechanism (314) causes the elongated member (318) to translate along the first axis of the first axial bore； wherein the housing body comprises first and second apertures (310) defined in the walls of the first and second portions of the housing body, respectively, the first and second apertures (310) being aligned along the first and second axes, respectively； and wherein a first fastener (306) is disposed through the first aperture (310) of the housing body and received in a fastener aperture defined in the first sleeve (302), and a second fastener (306) is disposed through the second aperture (310) of the housing body and received in a fastener aperture defined in the second sleeve (304), the first and second fasteners (306) being operable to releasably couple the first (302) and second (304) sleeves to the housing body, respectively.
