A telescopic strut for use with an external fixator comprises a tube (21) and a rod, especially a threaded rod (22) being in threaded engagement with said tube (21). The tube (21) comprises at least one hole (38) for accommodating a ball (28), the ball (28) having the spherical dimension for engagement of the threaded rod (21). A sleeve (23) is provided on the portion of the tube (21) comprising said hole (38), wherein the sleeve (23) comprises a non-spherical inner cross-section. The greater diameter of the sleeve (23) has a dimension which is at least the sum of the outer diameter of the threaded rod (22) plus the diameter of an accommodating ball (28) for allowing direct axial movement of the threaded rod (22) against the tube (21) in such a rotational position of the sleeve (23) while the lesser diameter has a dimension to accommodate the ball (28) within the threaded rod (22) for allowing a rotational movement of the threaded rod (22) against the tube (21).
