Introduction
Fracture fixation can be realized internally or externally, with
both methods aiming to stabilize the injury, enable fast healing
and allow the patient to return to full function as early as
possible. External fixation is indicated primarily for temporary
fracture fixation after trauma, but is also used for deformity
correction, limb lengthening, defect treatment, and other cases in
which minimal soft tissue damage is desired. A major benefit of
external fixation is the ability to stabilize a fracture without
the need for open reduction or invasive surgery at the fracture
site, which are often undesirable in trauma scenarios.
As compared to internal fixation methods, external fixation allows
for the avoidance of infected areas, minimization of soft tissue
damage, and flexibility in choosing points to place wires and
half-pins. External fixation constructs are also adjustable
postoperatively, which is especially beneficial for indications
such as limb lengthening and deformity correction.
Description
External fixation of the lower leg is a surgical procedure that
uses rods or plates to immobilise and fix a bone following a
fracture to allow the bone to heal in its correct position.
The two major classes of external fixation to date are pin-bar and
wire-ring systems, each with their respective indications,
advantages, and disadvantages. Across both types, the components of
an external fixator typically include rings, side bars, mounting
additions, clamps, pins and/or wires. The characteristics of these
elements can have a significant effect on the mechanical stability
of an external fixation system.Fractures with severe soft tissue damage are often treated in a two
staged approach. In these cases external fixation is used as a
temporary fixation followed by a definitive treatment such as
plating or intramedullary.
Design concept
An external fixator is a stabilizing frame to hold the broken bones
in proper position. In an external fixator, metal pins or screws
are placed into the bone through small incisions into the skin and
muscle. The pins and screws are attached to a bar outside the skin.
Sometimes day to day activities can seem more challenging when you
have an external fixator. Here are some practical tips that might
help to make some of these tasks seem a little bit easier.
