The orthopedic industry has always sought better and more functional types of implants and instruments that help manage every condition. External fixators also known as external fixation devices have played a vital role in orthopedic surgeries for treating complex kinds of fractures, genetic bone-related deformities, and many other conditions. This advanced set of equipment helps provide a metal framework to the bony structures that require stability and fixation for recovery. It helps bone alignment while helping in quick healing without any inconvenience.
Being a versatile orthopedic solution, external fixation instrument sets can be used for various clinical indications. These make them an important tool for orthopedic surgeons. Having an understanding of their main features and advantages can greatly improve surgical results and patient care in this area.
An Introduction to External Fixation Devices
Experts say that for over 2000 years, external fixators or external fixation devices have been used for treating fractures. The application of these devices has changed with time, but the mechanics remain as they were always. The main objective of an external fixator is to maintain alignment, length, and rotation of the fractured part. This type of treatment can serve as a provisional fixation method. Thus, orthopedic surgeons must be familiar with the principles and uses of external fixators before entering a trauma center for treatment.
Key Features of External Fixators
A surgeon must get well-versed with the salient features of an external fixator. In this blog section, we shall discuss how external fixation devices can help achieve satisfactory results for your patient and their well-being.
1. User-Friendly
The external fixators are used for simple and easy application procedures in the operating room after the injury. The ease of using these devices helps the surgeons swiftly construct and adjust the device to meet the unique demands of each patient.
In addition to this, the surgical procedure conducted to place this orthopedic instrument is minimally invasive. It needs a minimal surgical procedure in which no surrounding tissues are damaged. This feature also helps in reducing any kind of soft tissue injury and promotes faster recovery.
2. Adaptability
An external fixator's dynamic flexibility helps adjust the orthopedic instrument even after the surgery. The surgeons can alter the alignment or tension of the fixator by just an added minimally invasive procedure. It also facilitates good alignment as the bone keeps healing. The equipment can also be adjusted according to the patient’s physical anatomy measurements. This feature is necessary and helpful to address the indication for which it is used.
3. Durable Performance
External fixators made of high-quality materials provide long-term functioning under a range of loads and circumstances. For patients who may need prolonged stabilization, this longevity is crucial. External fixators can maintain their structural integrity with time along with providing constant support during the healing journey. Stability is also important for inhibiting nonunion and malunion of fractures.
Advantages of Using External Fixation Devices
As we learn about the important characteristics of an external fixator, it is also equally necessary to know its advantages. So, let us know in detail about the benefits of this orthopedic device:
Patient Comfort
Pain is one of the most debilitating experiences caused by any trauma or injury. In this case, it is reported that the usage of an external fixation technique causes much less pain when compared to other invasive techniques. This reduced trauma to adjacent tissues leads to a much more easy and comfortable recovery for patients.
Patients can preserve some degree of movement while recovering with the help of external fixators. This helps them to expedite rehabilitation and avoid immobility-related problems.
Better Recovery Results
Post-operative fixator adjustment enables accurate bone alignment, which is essential for the best recovery outcomes. The risk of infection and other surgical-related problems is reduced by external fixators, which minimize soft tissue injury and maintain blood flow.
Allows Weight-Bearing Activities
The most unique benefit of using an external fixator device is that it allows patients to continue their weight-bearing activities with ease. As the healing begins, the surgeons advise the patients to start shifting to walkers from crutches, and then to their complete weight-bearing tendency without any support. Better recovery results are supported by this steady increase in mobility, which helps to train the muscles surrounding the injury.
External fixators significantly improve patient mobility during recovery by stability and early mobilization methods improve functional results and quality of life after surgery.
Various Applications
These fixators are ideal for different orthopedic conditions, such as to treat limb deformity, limb lengthening procedures, open fractures, etc. They are incredibly useful instruments in an orthopedic surgeon's toolbox because of their versatility.
Clinical Importance
The process of external fixations plays a very crucial role in orthopedic surgery. It is most commonly chosen for its ability to stabilize fractures rigidly and the definite fixation that the procedure assures. The very usual after-surgery complications can be avoided by using external fixation in a damage-control environment because of its minimally invasive nature, rapid fixation, and reduced blood loss.
Moreover, the possibility of injection and wound complications is correspondingly reduced. However, a proper amount of time is allowed for the swelling of the surrounding soft tissues to decrease following severe injuries.
External Fixators - Keep the Fractured Bones in Alignment
Overall, we can say that an external fixator does showcase a huge advancement in orthopedic surgery by offering ease of use, adjustability, and durability. Their advantages go beyond the ease of surgery; through accelerated recovery and fewer problems, they significantly improve patient outcomes.
As a manufacturer of orthopedic implants for over three decades, we commit to quality and excellence in our service. We constantly strive to develop and create a range of the most efficient external fixator instruments. Our team creates these products intending to meet the evolving requirements of the surgeons and their patients. By emphasizing customization and innovation, being one of the India’s top orthopedic implants manufacturers, Sharma Orthopedic aims to help surgeons perform the best treatment, guaranteeing optimum care for better outcomes.
With the help of external fixators for orthopedic surgery, you can support the entire objective of helping patients live a quality life with the help of successful surgical procedures. We are determined to offer solutions that empower surgeons and have a beneficial influence on patient well-being.