Use of recycled external fixators in management of compound injuries

Compound fractures form a bulk of Orthopaedic Trauma cases in a developing country like India. External Fixation devices are the mainstays of treatment of these open fractures. They are generally used as a one use disposable device and add a great burden to the health care costs, especially in a developing country. In our study we evaluated the efficacy and complication rate of recycled external fixators with that of new external fixators.

This was a prospective randomised interventional study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital of a developing country. Patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were entered into the trial of new vs. recycled external fixators. Outcome indicators used were pin tract infections, loss of fixation and loosening of components.

Patients were evaluated at the time of removal of fixator components for outcome indicators. Of the 95 patients in our study (49 new frames and 46 recycled frames) no significant difference was found in the incidence of pin tract infection (8.16% in new vs. 8.69% in recycled), loss of fixation (10.2% in new vs. 13.04% in recycled) and loosening of components (6.12% in new vs. 8.69% in recycled).

Around 17% of consentable patients did not want to have an external fixator system with recycled components. Our study concluded that recycling of external fixator components is safe and equally effective, with sizable cost saving.