[Indications for percutaneous fracture fixation in bone surgery]

Because of its technical improvement percutaneous pinfixation of bones is now a successful procedure of osteosynthesis. The indications of this method are: Open fractures of second and third degree, emergency treatment of polytraumatized persons with debris fractures, fractures in combination with vascular injuries or burns, elongating osteotomy, pseudarthrosis, osteomyelitis and arthrodesis. External pin-fixation offers the following advantages: High range of stability with the possibility of early exercises. In case of resorption of the bone fragments it is possible, to correct the axial compression. No lesion of the fragments periosteum or endosteum. The operative damage to cortical vascular supply is minimized. The danger of bone infection is reduced. Subsequent correction of the bone axis can be performed. Altogether the pin-fixation is a safe and satisfactory method of osteosynthesis without physical strain for the patient.