EXTERNAL SKELETAL FIXATOR

EXTERNAL SKELETAL FIXATORS External skeletal fixator are a versatile affordable treatment for long bone fracture management. Joint arthrodesis A temporarily joint immobilization But it not use for pelvic fracture ,and articular fracture.

CHARACTER OF EXTERNAL FIXATOR Increase the pin diameter increase the holding capacity, but it should not exceed the 20% of the bone diameter. Stability of the fracture area is directly proportional to the number of pin. Bone and fixator clamp distance inversely proportional to the stiffness of fixator.

Strength and stiffness increase as the size and number of external connecting bar increase

NOMENCLATURE OF COMMON EXTERNAL FRAME TYPE ONE A ; common frame are unilateral uniplanar. TYPE ONE B : unilateral bi planar TYPE TWO : bilateral uniplanar TYPE THREE : bilateral - biplanar CIRCULAR EXTERNAL FIXATOR

TYPE ONE A Unilateral uniplanar Applied to the medial surface of radius and tibia. or the lateral surface of femur and humerus.

TYPE ONE - B Unilateral - biplanar Applied on radius and tibia .

TYPE TWO Bilateral uniplanar Cannot be applied to the femur and humerus . Applied only on the radius and tibia.

TYPE THREE Bilateral biplanar Cannot be applied over femur and humerus because the position of the body wall

CIRCULAR EXTERNAL FIXATOR It use for fracture treatment Angular limb deformity correction

EQUPEMENT AND SUPPLIES Fixation pin inserted in to bone to hold major fragment. External connecter to support fracture. Linkage device

FIXATION PIN ACCORDING TO PENETRATION HALF PIN : inserted so that they penetrate both cortices but only one skin FULL PIN : inserted both cortices and skin

ACCORDING TO THREADING Nonthreaded fixation pin - it has smooth surface. Threated pin - End threated and centrally threated

External connector External connector are come in small , medium and large external connector bar. Made of stainless steel , titanium alloy , carbon fiber , aluminum or acrylic

LINKAGE DEVICES The linkage device connects the fixation pin and external bar. It consist if a single clamp through which external bar fixation pin placed. Both SK and U clamp in the above photo

TYPES OF CLAMP U clamp S k clamp The u clamp are more secure in resisting fixator pin movement than sk clamp ( kraus et al )

APPLICATION Fracture treatment Arthrodesis Bone lengthening Bone transport Angular limb deformity correction