THE AO PINLESS EXTERNAL FIXATOR

A serious disadvantage of conventional external fixators is the openin g of the medullary canal. This creats a direct communication between t he canal and the exterior. The new pinless external fixator does not h ave this disadvantage. The clamps of the new fixator system do not pen etrate cortical bone, they simply rest on the cortical surface. The cl inical indications of this easily managed system are fractures of the tibial shaft in cases in which primary internal fixation is precluded either by precarious local or general conditions, or even by a lack of infrastructure. In such situations the pinless external fixator is an excellent device to achieve a good fracture stabilisation rapidly, wh ile leaving open all subsequent alteration of treatment. In case of se condary change to an intramedullary nail the pinless fixator facilitat es the procedure, because this fixator can be also used as an distract or during nailing. Furthermore this fixator can be combined with any i ntramedullary nail to increase the stability in case of very proximal or distal as well as highly instable shaft fractures. The clamps of th e pinless external fixator set are used in combination with the standa rd AO fixator system.