BACKGROUND Pin tract infection is a common complication of external fixation. It usually heals after treatment with debridement, antibiotics, and/or pin removal, only rarely developing into delayed osteomyelitis. We treated two patients with delayed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-induced osteomyelitis of the tibia following pin tract infection. CASE PRESENTATION One patient, a di...

Treatment outcomes were compared in two groups of children with femoral diaphyseal fractures which were treated with external fixation (20 fractures) or flexible intramedullary nailing (20 fractures). These 40 children were between 5.4 to 14.1 years of age. The duration of the operation averaged 52 minutes for the external fixator compared with 70 minutes for the flexible nail group. The time t...

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...

OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility of using standard components from the small AO external fixator set to support fractures of the distal radius with a construct incorporating distal fixation in the periarticular radius fragment that would allow for primary mobilization of the wrist joint during fracture healing. METHODS In a prospective pilot study of a nonbridging external fixator in early...

BACKGROUND Reconstruction of Charcot feet remains a surgical challenge. The goal of this study was to investigate safety and clinical benefit from reconstruction of Charcot feet using an external fixator. There is limited valid data regarding long-term outcomes for Charcot foot procedures. METHODS In a retrospective study, 292 Charcot feet (282 patients) undergoing reconstructive procedures i...

External fixators include pins and wires placed by surgeons to stabilize fractures such as those involving the tibia. In critical care, external fixators are more commonly used to stabilize cervical spine fractures. Because halo fixators secure cervical alignment, these devices allow early mobilization and shortened stays. However, halo-fixator complications include cranial pin loosening, local...

UNLABELLED Distraction osteogenesis is an effective method for lengthening, deformity correction, and treatment of nonunions and bone defects. The classic method uses an external fixator for both distraction and consolidation leading to lengthy times in frames and there is a risk of refracture after frame removal. We suggest a new technique: lengthening and then nailing (LATN) technique in whic...

INTRODUCTION Epiphysiolysis of the femoral head is the most common accident occurring towards the end of pre-puberty and puberty growth. CASE REPORT The author describes the experience in the treatment of chronic epiphysiolysis in two patients treated by Southwick osteotomy. The site is accessed by way of a 15-cm long lateral skin incision and the trochanteric region is reached through the la...