MedElevator
Войти в исследования European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026
Development of a low-cost external fixation system: an off-label solution for resource-limited settings.
СтатьяНазвание и аннотация: Перевод в очереди
Обработка статьи · этапы, ошибки и управление
Загрузка состояния…
Ошибки и ограничения
История · было → стало
Состояние обновляется каждые 5 секунд, пока блок открыт. Процент показывается только там, где известен объём работы. Пауза останавливает продолжение этапа; текущий запрос к источнику может завершиться.
Seiser Martin, Deininger Christian, Fierlbeck Johann, Hollensteiner Marianne, Coles Patrick, Reuter Caspar, Tempfer Herbert, Traweger Andreas, Wichlas Florian
Аннотация
PURPOSE: External fixators are essential for the surgical management of long-bone fractures, particularly in resource-limited settings where access to commercial systems is often restricted by cost and logistics. This study aimed to develop a low-cost external fixation concept using widely available construction materials and evaluate its biomechanical performance under axial loading.
METHODS: An external fixator composed of M10 threaded rods, washers, and nuts was developed. Five configurations were tested: SP (Steinmann pins), KT (threaded K-wires), KS (smooth K-wires), and BKS (bilaterally applied, smooth K-wires). A commercial external fixator served as control (CG). Juvenile bovine ulnae with a standardized fracture gap were subjected to cyclic axial loading. Construct stiffness, elastic deformation, and plastic deformation were assessed.
RESULTS: CG showed the highest stiffness (107.80 ± 14.12 N/mm), followed by SP (87.73 ± 17.92 N/mm), BKS (83.81 ± 10.01 N/mm), KS (49.84 ± 3.80 N/mm), and KT (46.66 ± 2.39 N/mm). Post-hoc analyses showed no significant differences between CG vs. SP and CG vs. BKS, whereas KT and KS were significantly less stiff. Elastic deformation followed a similar pattern. Plastic deformation was greatest in CG, while SP and BKS showed significantly lower values.
CONCLUSIONS: The threaded-rod fixator provides relevant mechanical stability at extremely low material cost. As a first biomechanical proof-of-concept, this approach may offer a practical and immediately deployable stabilization method for resource-limited settings when standard external fixators are unavailable. It could serve either as a definitive treatment or as part of a damage control strategy prior to transfer. Further biomechanical, cadaveric, and clinical studies are required before clinical application can be considered.
METHODS: An external fixator composed of M10 threaded rods, washers, and nuts was developed. Five configurations were tested: SP (Steinmann pins), KT (threaded K-wires), KS (smooth K-wires), and BKS (bilaterally applied, smooth K-wires). A commercial external fixator served as control (CG). Juvenile bovine ulnae with a standardized fracture gap were subjected to cyclic axial loading. Construct stiffness, elastic deformation, and plastic deformation were assessed.
RESULTS: CG showed the highest stiffness (107.80 ± 14.12 N/mm), followed by SP (87.73 ± 17.92 N/mm), BKS (83.81 ± 10.01 N/mm), KS (49.84 ± 3.80 N/mm), and KT (46.66 ± 2.39 N/mm). Post-hoc analyses showed no significant differences between CG vs. SP and CG vs. BKS, whereas KT and KS were significantly less stiff. Elastic deformation followed a similar pattern. Plastic deformation was greatest in CG, while SP and BKS showed significantly lower values.
CONCLUSIONS: The threaded-rod fixator provides relevant mechanical stability at extremely low material cost. As a first biomechanical proof-of-concept, this approach may offer a practical and immediately deployable stabilization method for resource-limited settings when standard external fixators are unavailable. It could serve either as a definitive treatment or as part of a damage control strategy prior to transfer. Further biomechanical, cadaveric, and clinical studies are required before clinical application can be considered.