title: Standards of external fixation in prolonged applications to allow safe conversion to definitive extremity surgery: the Aachen algorithm for acute ex fix conversion.
abstract: External fixation has become an important tool in orthopedic surgery. Technology has improved the design and material as well as the construct of the fixator. As most patients are converted from external fixation to definite stabilization during later clinical course, prevention of complications such as infection is of high importance. Based on the current literature, principles of temporary external fixation were summarized. We focused on minimizing the risk of infection and introduce a standardized algorithm how to proceed when converting from external to internal fixation, which also was examined for effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma at Aachen University Medical Center, Aachen Germany; Harald Tscherne Lab for Orthopaedic Trauma, Aachen Germany.
authors.forename: Klemens
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horst
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma at Aachen University Medical Center, Aachen Germany; Harald Tscherne Lab for Orthopaedic Trauma, Aachen Germany.
authors.forename: Hagen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andruszkow
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma at Aachen University Medical Center, Aachen Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma at Aachen University Medical Center, Aachen Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dienstknecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma at Aachen University Medical Center, Aachen Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Pittsburgh Med. Ctr., Pittsburgh, USA.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tarkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma at Aachen University Medical Center, Aachen Germany. Electronic address: hpape@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Hans-Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pape
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Algorithm; Complication; Conversion; Definitive stabilization; External fixation; Infection; Standard