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External Fixator Surgery

A physician can recommend different methods used to stabilize a broken bone--for example, a cast or a splint, which doesn't require surgery. For more complex fractures, however, a phsycian might suggest an external fixator, which does requires surgery.

  1. External Fixator

    • External fixators stabilize a fractured bone. The frame of the fixator is outside the patient's body, with pins and screws that extend into the skin, through the muscle and into the broken bone, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

    Surgery

    • To place an external fixation device, a surgeon needs to surgically implant the pins and screws in the broken bone, according to "McGlamry's Comprehensive Textbook of Foot and Ankle Surgery."

    Complications

    • Potential complications of surgery to place an external fixator include the risk of implant failure and the chance of infection at the sites where the pins enter the skin.

    Aftercare

    • After undergoing surgery, the patient might need anti-inflammation medication while in recovery. Keeping the pins and screws covered with dry, sterile gauze can reduce the risk of infection.

    Considerations

    • By assembling the outer portion of an external fixator before surgery, a surgeon can reduce the time the patient spends under anesthesia.

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