The management of tibial non-union is challenging with protracted, often arduous, treatments. The purpose of this study was to assess patient-reported outcomes following treatment of tibial non-union in circular external fixators. Twenty-one patients with tibial non-unions who successfully completed treatment at a mean of 10.1 months (range 6-20) in a circular external fixator were sent questio...

We report the results of a prospective randomised controlled trial of the management of 101 Colles' fractures in patients over the age of 55 years. Within two weeks of initial reduction 43 fractures had displaced with either more than 10 degrees dorsal angulation or more than 5 mm radial shortening. These patients were randomly divided into two groups: 21 were remanipulated and held by an exter...

Arthrodesis of the knee is sometimes needed for failed total knee replacement, but fusion can be difficult to obtain. We describe a method of arthrodesis that uses the simple, inexpensive, Portsmouth external fixator. Bony union was obtained in all six patients treated with this technique. These results are compared with those obtained by other methods of arthrodesis.

PURPOSE Femoral lengthening using a circular or mono-lateral frame is a commonly used technique. Fracture at the site of the regenerate bone is a major concern especially following removal of the external fixator. This aim of this study was to assess the rate of fracture of the regenerate bone in this single surgeon series of paediatric patients and determine potential risk factors. METHODS R...

The present study aims to assess the incidence of complications related to bone lengthening procedures and to identify factors that may predict these complications. We retrospectively studied 51 lengthening procedures in 39 patients (mean age 13 years) from 2001 to 2015. A circular external fixator was used in 37 procedures and a monolateral fixator in 14 procedures. Duration of distraction, fi...

Compression was evaluated in an intramedullary hindfoot arthrodesis cadaver model using an external fixator and a "second generation" intramedullary compression nail. Four cadaver specimens were used. Four trials were done with each specimen. Trial 1: manual compression with the 1st generation nail. Trial 2: external fixator for compression with the 1st generation nail. Trial 3: external fixato...

INTRODUCTION Extra-focal or external fixation is the method of fracture fixation through the healthy part of the bone using pins or wires. OBJECTIVE The aim was to determine which external splints (Ortofix, Mitković, Charnley and Ilizarov) had the best biomechanical properties in primary stabilization of spiral, transverse and commutative bone fractures. METHODS To determine the investigati...

A small, light, ball-joint device called PinFix, which can instantly convert a simple percutaneous cross pin fracture fixation system into a rigid external fracture fixation system based on truss structure, was developed. The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical load and breaking strength of this truss-structure-based fixation system to that of the conventionally used external ca...

The optimal timing of surgical stabilization of fractures in the multitrauma patient is controversial. There are advantages to early definitive surgery for most patients. Early temporary fixation using external fixators, followed by definitive fixation (ie, the damage control approach), may increase the chance for survival in a subset of patients with severe multisystem injuries. Improved under...

To evaluate the results of the Ilizarov external fixator in the treatment of non-union post-high tibial osteotomy (HTO). Five non-unions, in four patients, following HTO were treated by Ilizarov fixation. Clinical outcome was assessed pre- and post-operatively by the Knee Society Clinical Rating System (KSCRS). Radiological analysis assessed bone healing pre- and post-operatively and measured p...