Working Mechanism

External limb fixators operate on the principle of “gradual adjustment of pressure to allow bone regeneration”. This begins within 5 to 7 days after the surgery to allow bones to rest before they are ready for adjustments in fixators through the following phases:

Distraction Phase

In this phase, the patient or their family members, based on a schedule prescribed by the doctor, are advised to adjust the knob or other parts of the device to gradually pull apart the bone segments, leaving a void of 1 mm per day. This void is filled by newly regenerated bone tissue. This process continues till the bone has been corrected or straightened.

Consolidation Phase

After the distraction phase, the soft bone tissue is allowed to ossify through mineral deposition. At this point, the external limb fixators provide additional support to keep the healing or “consolidating” bone at its place and minimize the risk of bone deformities.

Types of External Limb Fixators

External limb fixators come in various designs and structures depending on the bone, however, the following two are widely used designs:

Circular

Consisting of two or more circular components, circular (external) limb fixators can completely or partially surround the limb. This type of structure helps in distributing torsional and mechanical pressure to help bone to heal without the risk of deformities.

Monolateral

Monolateral (external) limb fixators consist of a straight bar, which is attached by placing on the side of the bone. They are connected with multiple screws, coated in hydroxyapatite, to strengthen the grip with the bone and prevent the risk of slipping/detaching.

External limb fixators conform around/according to the bone shape and size, which is why they are widely used for fracture management. When it comes to buying external limb fixators, it is vital to check the composition of the device components, the material and coating provided, and the warranty/return policy.

If you are looking to buy modular fixators for upper and lower limbs, contact a trusted supplier of medical devices that provides a complete range of orthopedic implants made in compliance with global manufacturing standards.