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Advanced External Fixator Surgery

External Fixators surgery is one of the oldest bone treatment techniques. The surgeon places pins or wires through the skin into the bone that connect to an external frame. This frame holds the broken bones in position.

The technique has changed by a lot over the last several years. The main goal is to keep the fracture's length, arrangement, and rotation intact. The surgeon uses an external device with rings and threaded rods attached to pins that go into the bone.

This article covers everything about external fixator surgery, from preparation to recovery, and helps you understand this crucial orthopaedic procedure.

Why CARE Group Hospitals is Your Top Choice for External Fixator Surgery in Hyderabad

CARE Group Hospitals in Hyderabad provides reliable External Fixator surgery with advanced technology and skilled orthopaedic specialists. The hospital's experienced orthopaedic surgeons treat complicated fractures and limb deformities through external fixation procedures. They create treatment plans tailored to each patient to speed up recovery and lower the chances of problems. Patients benefit from advanced operation theatres and focused rehabilitation that support their journey to walk and move with ease again. From initial diagnosis to full recovery, CARE Hospitals focuses on delivering world-class, compassion-driven care. They remain the go-to choice in Hyderabad for External Fixator surgery.

Best External Fixator Surgery Doctors in India

Advanced Surgical Innovations at CARE Hospital

CARE Hospital's advanced technology includes South India's first dual-source 128-slice CT scanner. This sophisticated imaging equipment helps surgeons plan external fixator placement with precision. The hospital's innovative external fixation techniques include:

  • Controlled repetitive axial loading to stimulate callus formation
  • Modified Ilizarov techniques for complex cases
  • Segment transport procedures for substantial bone loss

Conditions for External Fixator Surgery

CARE Hospital's external fixators treat these orthopaedic conditions:

  • Open fractures with soft tissue damage
  • Complex periarticular fractures
  • Unstable pelvic ring injuries
  • Bone infections and osteomyelitis
  • Limb lengthening and deformity correction
  • Arthrodesis (joint fusion) procedures

Types of External Fixator Procedures

CARE Hospital specialises in several external fixation types:

  • Unilateral fixation: Using pins inserted on one side of the bone connected to an external frame
  • Circular/ring fixation: Including special frame systems for complex deformities
  • Hybrid fixation: Combining elements of both unilateral and circular fixators
  • Multiplanar fixation: Providing stability in multiple planes for complex fractures

The orthopaedic team excels at specialised techniques like distraction osteogenesis for limb lengthening. They also perform bone transport procedures to treat bone defects caused by trauma or infection.

Pre-surgery Preparation

Preparation includes:

  • Doctors perform several tests and imaging (X-rays/CT) before the procedure.
  • Quit smoking as it stops bone healing cells from working properly.  
  • Overweight patients should lose weight to reduce the load on their feet. 
  • Avoid anti-inflammatory medications like Ibuprofen and blood thinners for a few days before surgery.

External Fixator Surgical Procedure

Steps include:

  • Doctors perform external fixation under general anaesthesia. 
  • The surgeon drills holes in the healthy parts of the broken bone and puts in bolts. These bolts connect to rods that attach to an external frame. 
  • The procedure needs small holes with special bolts or wires screwed into them. 
  • Rods or metal pieces with ball-and-socket joints connect the bolts outside the body to create solid support.
  • Doctors perform intraoperative imaging to check out proper bone alignment and fixator position.
  • Doctors clean and dress the pin area.

Post-surgery Recovery

Pin site care needs special attention to stop infections. Patients must clean the areas where pins enter the body regularly. Most fractures heal between 6-12 weeks, and the fixator stays in place during this time. Physical therapy plays a vital role after removal to help patients move normally again.

Risks and Complications

The most common problems include:

  • Pin site infections 
  • Joint stiffness
  • Broken frame parts
  • Blood clots
  • Osteomyelitis 
  • You can spot an infected pin site by pain, redness, swelling, and yellow or green discharge.

Benefits of External Fixator Surgery

This surgery lets patients move early, adjust bone positioning, preserve soft tissue, and treat difficult fractures. External fixators work better than internal fixation because they cause less damage to soft tissues, bone, blood supply and periosteum.

Insurance Assistance for External Fixator Surgery

The purpose of the procedure determines insurance coverage. Patients should research their options, plan ahead and keep talking to their doctors and insurance providers.

Second Opinion for External Fixator Surgery

A second opinion helps confirm if you really need the treatment and if it will work. Online consultations are a great way to get expert reviews without travelling. 

Conclusion

External fixator surgery shows evidence of medical progress. What was once an ancient technique has become a mainstream treatment option for complex bone problems. This surgical approach gives patients many advantages when they face severe fractures, infections, and need deformity corrections.

CARE Hospital provides exceptional external fixator treatments without a doubt. The hospital's innovative equipment and experienced surgical team make this possible. Their dual-source 128-slice CT scanner helps surgeons plan fixator placement with precision. External fixator surgery keeps getting better and offers hope to patients with complex bone and soft tissue problems. 

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Best External Fixator Surgery Hospitals in India

Frequently Asked Questions

External fixator surgery uses pins or wires that go through the skin into the bone and connect to an external frame. This device:

  • Keeps fractured bones stable from the outside of the body
  • Helps bones line up correctly while maintaining proper length and rotation
  • Creates a strong support structure with bars and clamps attached to the pins

Doctors suggest external fixation to treat:

  • Unstable pelvic ring injuries
  • Complex fractures close to joints (periarticular)
  • Fractures with severe soft tissue swelling or damage
  • Cases where patients can't handle longer procedures
  • Bone infections (osteomyelitis) or bone loss
  • Problems that need limb deformity correction and lengthening

The best candidates are patients with:

  • Open fractures where bone breaks through the skin
  • Heavy damage to bone or soft tissue
  • Issues requiring limb lengthening or deformity correction
  • Unstable fractures needing quick stabilisation

External fixation is safe and minimally invasive when used correctly. All the same, pin site infections are the most common issue. Other risks include stiff joints, improper healing, and fractures after pin removal.

Doctors remove the fixator:

  • Once X-rays show the bone has healed completely with at least three visible cortices
  • With anaesthesia, since pin removal can hurt
  • During an outpatient procedure
  • Sometimes they add a cast or brace for 3-4 weeks of extra protection

The surgery usually takes 1-2 hours. The time depends on:

  • The fracture's complexity
  • How many pins do you need
  • The patient's health

High-risk patients might need parallel pin placement to reduce surgery time.

Doctors call external fixator surgery a major procedure that needs general anaesthesia. The good news is that it's nowhere near as invasive as other orthopaedic surgeries. Patients stay in the hospital for 2-8 days on average.

Common complications include:

  • Pin-site infection 
  • Pins can loosen or break
  • Nerve damage can occur
  • Temporary lateral femoral cutaneous nerve irritation
  • Fractures might happen at the pin sites after removal
  • Joints can become stiff or lose motion

Recovery varies based on the specific injury:

  • Most fractures heal in 6-12 weeks
  • Patients wear the external fixator for 4-6 months 
  • Full activity might take up to a year to resume

Long-term outcomes show:

  • Limb salvage succeeds in the majority of patients
  • More than 80% of cases achieve excellent to good functional ratings
  • Some patients need extended physiotherapy to regain full function
  • Pin sites carry a risk of refracture after removal

External fixation procedures use:

  • General anaesthesia for the original application
  • Regional anaesthesia works well for removal
  • Removal might use conscious sedation with nitrous oxide/oxygen (or methoxyflurane 

Walking ability varies with external fixation:

  • Doctors encourage walking with the frame because it helps bone healing
  • The majority of patients can bear partial weight in the first week after surgery
  • Patients walk without crutches by 6 weeks
  • Half of all patients bear full weight without crutches before removal

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