[Indications and use of "AO pinless fixateurs". A preliminary report]

Improvements in techniques for the management of open tibial fractures with the external fixator have made a great impact on the final results in recent years. More recently this system has been discussed controversially. The longer treatment takes, the more likely it is that complications will occur when relying solely on the conventional external fixator. The new pinless fixator for the tibia was designed to overcome these problems. Early conversion to a more stable implant is one of the primary goals of this system. In this article the pros and cons are presented in detail and the limitation of this device explained. Moreover first clinical experiences are summarized and possible additional indications highlighted.