[External fixator: surgical technique, pinless fixator, change in procedure]. 1994

H Oberli, and R Frigg, and R Schenk
Surgical Department, Central Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands.

External Fixation-Technique: The advantages of external over internal fixation are as follows: a) endosteal and periosteal blood supply is undisturbed, b) "low-tech" equipment may be used, c) secondary adjustments are possible and d) easy implant removal. These benefits however are outweighed by the main disadvantages of long term external fixation i.e. pin complications and delayed union of fractures. Better understanding of postoperative management and careful application of screws of improved design will lead to better results. Today's standard applications of external fixation for tibial fractures is a unilateral fixator, using Schanz screws. The pin-bone interface is the most critical site of all external fixation. By avoiding heat necrosis (low temperature drilling) and preventing micro motion at the pin-bone interface (by applying bending- or more recently radial-preload), pin complications such as infection and loosening can be reduced. Two Schanz screws are inserted into each main fragment and are connected with one short tube per fragment. The fracture is then reduced by using these tubes as handles. After reduction a third tube connects the first two by means of two tube-to-tube clamps. This type of fixation will easily allow for three dimensional secondary corrections of alignment. Approximately three weeks following the injury some motion at the fracture site will stimulate callus formation. This can be achieved by destabilisation, dynamisation or "active stimulation" of the fracture site [2]. Pinless fixator: The pinless external fixator holds the fragments firmly with pointed clamps that penetrate about one millimeter into cortical bone without entering and contaminating the medullary canal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011859 Radiography Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film). Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D012086 Reoperation A repeat operation for the same condition in the same patient due to disease progression or recurrence, or as followup to failed previous surgery. Revision, Joint,Revision, Surgical,Surgery, Repeat,Surgical Revision,Repeat Surgery,Revision Surgery,Joint Revision,Revision Surgeries,Surgery, Revision
D004867 Equipment Design Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware. Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D005264 Femoral Fractures Fractures of the femur. Femoral Fracture,Fracture, Femoral,Fractures, Femoral
D005593 Fracture Fixation, Internal The use of internal devices (metal plates, nails, rods, etc.) to hold the position of a fracture in proper alignment. Osteosynthesis, Fracture,Fixation, Internal Fracture,Fixations, Internal Fracture,Fracture Fixations, Internal,Fracture Osteosyntheses,Fracture Osteosynthesis,Internal Fracture Fixation,Internal Fracture Fixations,Osteosyntheses, Fracture
D005597 Fractures, Open Fractures in which there is an external wound communicating with the break of the bone. Fractures, Compound,Compound Fracture,Compound Fractures,Fracture, Compound,Fracture, Open,Open Fracture,Open Fractures
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016267 External Fixators External devices which hold wires or pins that are placed through one or both cortices of bone in order to hold the position of a fracture in proper alignment. These devices allow easy access to wounds, adjustment during the course of healing, and more functional use of the limbs involved. Fixation Devices, External,Device, External Fixation,Devices, External Fixation,External Fixation Device,External Fixation Devices,External Fixator,Fixation Device, External,Fixator, External,Fixators, External
D017102 Fracture Healing The physiological restoration of bone tissue and function after a fracture. It includes BONY CALLUS formation and normal replacement of bone tissue. Fracture Healings,Healing, Fracture,Healings, Fracture

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