[Fixateurs externes for fractures combined with damage to the soft tissue (author's transl)]

The indications for external fixation with fixateurs externes are discussed and some important technical and biomechanical aspects are reviewed. The three-dimensional fixateur externe is recommended on the basis of clinical experimental research. Stability can be obtained with this even when bone defects and short metaphyseal fragments are present. The results observed after the treatment of aseptic and infected pseudarthroses of the tibia are shown in tabular form.