[The digital external fixator, new equipment (24 cases report)]

Phalangeal fractures and osteoarticular infections can be challenging injuries to manage, and their treatment is frequently complicated by deformity and stiffness. External fixation techniques have a well-established role in the treatment of these injuries. The mini-Hoffman external fixator is a particularly simple apparatus in design and in application. We report a technique of digital external fixator with a new original material developed in the service. It is an inexpensive and simple technique with good stability. The technical procedure is simple, consisting of two joints, Kirchner pins, 4mm diameter screwdrivers and a motor. Between 2001 and 2006, we used this method to treat 24 patients in a prospective study. The mean age was 35 years (range 16 to 68 years) with a male predominance, left hand predominance (14 cases), and carpenter's hand was the most frequent indication (11 cases). Mean duration of follow-up was two years (6 months to 5 years). Functional results were excellent in 12 cases and bad in six cases. Complications included a case of ischemic necrosis of the finger, two cases of secondary displacement, three cases of sepsis, two cases of algodystrophy and a case of pseudoarthrosis.