RadioGraphics
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

DOI: 10.1148/rg.236035159
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Taljanovic, M. S.
Right arrow Articles by Hunter, T. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Taljanovic, M. S.
Right arrow Articles by Hunter, T. B.
Related Collections
Right arrow Musculoskeletal Radiology
(Radiographics. 2003;23:1569-1590.)
© RSNA, 2003

SPECIAL REPORT

Fracture Fixation1

Mihra S. Taljanovic, MD, Marci D. Jones, MD, John T. Ruth, MD, James B. Benjamin, MD, Joseph E. Sheppard, MD and Tim B. Hunter, MD

1 From the Departments of Radiology (M.S.T., T.B.H.) and Orthopaedic Surgery (M.D.J., J.T.R., J.B.B., J.E.S.), University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245067, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067. Received July 2, 2003; revision requested July 17 and received August 12; accepted August 15. Address correspondence to M.S.T. (e-mail: mihrat@radiology.arizona.edu).

The basic goal of fracture fixation is to stabilize the fractured bone, to enable fast healing of the injured bone, and to return early mobility and full function of the injured extremity. Fractures can be treated conservatively or with external and internal fixation. Conservative fracture treatment consists of closed reduction to restore the bone alignment. Subsequent stabilization is then achieved with traction or external splinting by slings, splints, or casts. Braces are used to limit range of motion of a joint. External fixators provide fracture fixation based on the principle of splinting. There are three basic types of external fixators: standard uniplanar fixator, ring fixator, and hybrid fixator. The numerous devices used for internal fixation are roughly divided into a few major categories: wires, pins and screws, plates, and intramedullary nails or rods. Staples and clamps are also used occasionally for osteotomy or fracture fixation. Autogenous bone grafts, allografts, and bone graft substitutes are frequently used for the treatment of bone defects of various causes. For infected fractures as well as for treatment of bone infections, antibiotic beads are frequently used.

© RSNA, 2003

Index Terms: Fractures, 40.41 • Grafts, 40.456 • Stents and prostheses, 40.453




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 RadioGraphicsHome page
M. S. Taljanovic, T. B. Hunter, M. D. Miller, and J. E. Sheppard
Gallery of Medical Devices: Part 1: Orthopedic Devices for the Extremities and Pelvis
RadioGraphics, May 1, 2005; 25(3): 859 - 870.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
RADIOGRAPHICS RADIOLOGY RSNA JOURNALS ONLINE
Copyright © 2003 by the Radiological Society of North America.