The role of external fixators in paediatric trauma

We report a retrospective review of all paediatric trauma patients managed with an external fixator admitted to our institution over a 7-year period. We identified 30 fractures in 28 children. The fractures included 20 tibiae, 5 femurs, 2 humerii, 2 radii and 1 phalanx. The indications were 23 open fractures, 4 comminuted fractures and 3 closed fractures in poly-traumatised patients. It was the definitive treatment in 13 fractures. The mean length of total time with an external fixator was 9.6 weeks (range 1-38 weeks.) Difficulties encountered were eight problems, one obstacle and two true complications. There were no cases of re-fracture following removal of the external fixator. This review confirms that there is a role for the use of external fixation in selected paediatric fractures with a low complication rate.