External Fixation

External fixation is a surgical procedure for the treatment of fractured or deformed bones. It implies the use of a device – commonly called a fixator – worn outside the body. The fixator is connected to the bone with bone screws, or pins, that pass through the skin, and sometimes to muscles to connect the external fixator to the bone in order to hold the bone in place and to anchor the fixator securely. Sometimes wires are used with or instead of pins to hold the bone pieces in place. External fixation is an alternative procedure to internal fixation, and in some cases, the two methods are used in conjunction with each other. External fixation typically can be applied for temporary stabilization, fracture treatment, and management of deformities that are congenital or have arisen after healing from trauma injuries.