The most common surgery that orthopedic specialists perform to treat fractures and other orthopedic injuries is open reduction and internal fixation. However, sometimes the fracture is severe enough that ORIF is not feasible right away. In such cases, the surgeon recommends external fixation.
In this post, we will see external fixation in detail along with its procedure. Let us start with its brief introduction.

What is External Fixation?
External fixation is a surgical technique that orthopedic specialists perform to treat severe fractures. This surgery involves the use of K-wires and pins that surgeons insert and fix into the bones. These implants are then attached to an external apparatus which comprises metal rings, threaded rods, and screws. This system of external fixators is also called the Ilizarov apparatus. The external fixator system holds the broken bone fragments in the correct anatomy from the inside and facilitates healing. This surgical technique stabilizes bone and soft tissues without making much contact with the site of injury.