The Orthofix external fixator for fractures of long bones.
The Orthofix external fixator was used to treat 112 fractures of the long bones in 101 patients, and 22 patients with infected nonunions. Our results compared favourably with those reported in other series where external fixation was used. The overall rate of uncomplicated union was 69.6% with 24.1% of patients requiring a further operation. The overall incidence of nonunion (30.4%) was due to the relatively large number of severe open fractures in the series. The apparatus was simple to apply, and safe and effective in practice. We recommend its use for the primary treatment of open and segmental fractures, and for infected nonunion.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
N H
NH
Kim
S B
SB
Hahn
H W
HW
Park
I H
IH
Yang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004867:Equipment Design; D016267:External Fixators / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D012086:Reoperation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*