fixátor

Fixátor is a medical device used to fix and stabilize bone fragments in orthopedic treatment. The term most often refers to external fixators, devices applied outside the body whose pins or wires pass through the skin into bone and are connected by a rigid frame. Internal fixators, such as plates, screws, and intramedullary rods, fulfill a similar stabilizing role from inside the body.

External fixators provide fracture stabilization, support osteotomy sites, and enable deformity correction or limb lengthening by controlled distraction. The frame consists of pins or wires anchored in bone and linked by rods or rings; in circular systems, multiple rings allow multidirectional adjustment.

History and types: The Ilizarov circular fixator, developed in the 1950s, popularized limb lengthening and complex deformity correction. Modern external fixators include unilateral frames, circular ring systems, and modular hybrids, offering various configurations for different injuries and goals.

Procedure and care: Fixation is performed under anesthesia, with image guidance. After insertion, the limb is immobilized with the external frame; adjustments are made to correct alignment or length. Patients require meticulous pin care to reduce infection risk and regular imaging to monitor healing. Treatment duration depends on injury severity and healing rate.

Advantages and risks: External fixators allow adjustment without reoperation and preserve soft-tissue planes. They enable staged treatment and gradual deformity correction. Risks include pin tract infection, pin loosening, joint stiffness, neurovascular injury, and prolonged immobilization.