title: CMC external fixator.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Imobilisation of wounded extremity decreases pain and shock, diminishes the possibilities of soft tissue, vessels and nerves injury with bone fragments, that influences the volume and success of surgical debridement of the wound. Optimal external fixator for war purposes must be rigid in construction, have to be simple to master, allow simple approach to wound during the whole period of fixation, have to be in sterile package with all its necessary part and should not be too expensive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prof. Korzinek in correspondence with "Instrumentarija" from Zagreb developed a new type of external fixateur applicable in war situation and natural disasters. It was named CMC (Croatian Medical Corps) external fixateur, and it ensures imobilisation of extremity during transport to area of final treatment and it could also ensure conditions for definitive fixation. CMC is compound of bar, clamps and Schanz screws. Standard packing are CMC-30 and CMC-40.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMC external fixator is the applicable device in war and natural disaster situations. It is simple to master even for less experienced surgeons, it's low volume allows appropriate wound treatment, it could be resterilised and reused and it has acceptable price.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klobucar
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delinar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korzinek
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Korzinek
mesh_terms: D017523:Croatia; D004867:Equipment Design; D016267:External Fixators; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries*; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D014857:Warfare