[External fixation osteosynthesis]

External fixation is one of the mainstays of surgical fracture treatment. This method of osteosynthesis facilitates local damage control surgery for fractures with extensive soft tissue injury and in polytraumatized patients. In addition, correction of deformities and bone segment transport are possible. Arthrodesis and septic surgery also benefit from external fixation.An extensive range of fixators and methods are available to meet these various needs. An external fixator consists of three elements: securing the bone fragments (pins and/or wires with extracorporeal ends), longitudinal rods and rings, and the connectors. The main features of external fixation can be described in terms of a few design and assembly principles. It is important that "form follows function", i.e. design and assembly are modified to function. If these principles are observed, external fixation can be successfully applied.