Commonly Asked Questions About External Fixators

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Commonly Asked Questions About External Fixators
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• External fixation has been used to treat
  fractures for over 2000 years now. Hippocrates
  was the first to describe the method as a way to
  immobilize fractures without compromising the
  soft tissue. Fixator design and biomechanics have
  evolved dramatically over the years, but the
  fundamentals have not. There are many who still
  dont know much about external fixators. Here are
  some of the commonly asked questions that we have
  addressed in this blog. Read on.

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What Are External Fixators?

• An external fixator serves as a stabilizing frame
  used to maintain the appropriate alignment of
  shattered bones. Metal pins or screws are
  inserted into the bone through minuscule
  incisions made in the skin and muscle. The bar(s)
  outside the skin (majority of the component) is
  where the pins and screws are fastened through
  clamps. External fixators are different from
  casts and splints, which only provide external
  support. External fixators have both external and
  internal support as the pins are placed into the
  bone.

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How Are External Fixators Applied?

• The procedure for external fixing roughly
  includes the following steps
• Drilling
• By using a driller, the surgeon creates several
  holes around the damaged and fractured area to
  access the broken bone directly.
• Inserting Wires
• This stage involves screwing wires or nuts into
  the drilled holes.
• Putting the Rod in Place
• A rod or curved piece of metallic material is set
  up by the surgeon outside the body.
• Joint Adjustment
• The fracture can be positioned in the proper
  natural position by adjusting the spherical
  joints. In order to prevent infection at the
  surgery site, meticulous cleaning is done because
  the screws enter the skin.

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What are the Indications for External Fixators?

• Fracture fixation1. Comminuted periarticular
  fractures2. Fractures in patients who are
  hemodynamically compromised3. Fractures with
  significant soft tissue edema4. Fractures with
  significant bone loss5. Open fractures with Soft
  tissue loss
• Treatment of1. Unstable pelvic injuries2.
  Deformities3. Arthrodesis4. Osteomyelitis5.
  Nonunion \Infection6. Immobilized joints after a
  soft tissue graft
• Limb lengthening

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What are the Types of External Fixators?

• The three types of external fixation that
  surgeons most frequently employ
• Ring fixer - Ring fixators encircle the
  fracture/treatment area usually featuring two or
  more rings connected with wires, struts, and
  pins. Circular fixators have gained popularity in
  limb-lengthening procedures. They are
  particularly effective at allowing the patient to
  bear weight and maintain some joint motion during
  treatment.
• Multiplanar fixation It utilizes pins and bars
  along more than one plane. Includes bilateral and
  unilateral multiplanar as sub-types.

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• Uniplanar fixation works on a single plane. These
  devices are quick and simple to use, but they are
  not as strong as multiplanar fixation devices.
  These too have unilateral and bilateral
  sub-types.
• Apart from these primary types, there are many
  other types of external fixators including the
  synthes adjustable tibial exfix, Hoffman II and
  the modular fixator. Modular fixators allow free
  pin placement giving surgeons to hold the
  reduction and reduce the fracture by
  manipulation.
• Apart from these primary types, there are many
  other types of external fixators including the
  synthes adjustable tibial exfix, Hoffman II and
  the modular fixator. Modular fixators allow free
  pin placement giving surgeons to hold the
  reduction and reduce the fracture by manipulation.

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Conclusion

• The structure and mechanics of fixators have
  evolved significantly over time. The main goal of
  this procedure is to keep the fracture's length,
  parallelism, and rotation intact. It is critical
  for trauma surgeons to use high-quality, durable
  and precise external fixators when treating upper
  limb, lower limb, and pelvic fractures or for any
  other treatment. If you are looking to buy
  superior quality external fixators, contact
  a leading medical device supplier that
  manufactures high-end external fixators as per
  global standards to ensure proper comfort to
  patients.

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Contact us

• PUERTO RICO
• 1660 Santa Ana Street, Esq. Fidalgo Diaz San
  Juan,
• Puerto Rico 00909
• Call- 1-787-945-5800
• Email- info_at_madisonorthoinc.com
• Website- https//www.madisonortho.com/