Professional Documents
Culture Documents
External Fixation
External Fixation
External Fixation
Pelvis Jaw
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V {llows clients to use contagious
joints while the affected area
remains immobilized.
V supports areas with tissue or bone
infections.
V maintains position for unstable
fractures and for weakened muscles
V it is quickly and easily applied.
V he risk of infection at the site of the
fracture is minimal.
V Àeticulous pin insertion technique and skin
and pin tract care are required to prevent pin
tract infection.
V he pin and fi ator frame can be mechanically
difficult to assemble by the uninitiated
surgeon.
V he equipment is e pensive.
V he frame can be cumbersome, and the patient
may reject it for aesthetic reasons.
V Fracture through pin tracts may occur.
V t is difficult to do delicate surgery such as skin
flaps once the e fi apparatus is in place. dather do
this type of surgery before the frame is applied.
V de fracture after e fi removal may occur unless
the limb is adequately protected (e.g. by walking
cast application), until the underlying
V bone can again become accustomed to stress.
V he noncompliant patient may disturb the
appliance adjustments.
V he head injured patient may injure himself by
thrashing his pin studded limb against other parts.
V Joint stiffness may occur if the fracture requires
that the fi ator immobilize the adjacent joint. e.g.
an e fi placed over the ankle for a pilon fracture
as there was insufficient space for pins in the distal
tibial fragment.
V here are many potential complications with
sepsis being the most common.
V O
V eurovascular {ssessment
-compare the affected
e tremities to unaffected
e tremities
V Pain and bleeding
V igns of infections
-assess pin sites
V utritional tatus
B 3B