We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Fixator?

By Emma Lloyd
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 36,842
Share

In medicine, a fixator is a device which provides support and stability to a particular part of the body when it is in motion. Fixators can be either internal or external. Internal fixation uses screws and other small devices to support healing bones. An external fixator is a device which is used to provide stability and support for fractured bones. They are used in cases where a cast will not provide sufficient support while the bone is healing.

This term is also used in anatomy, where a similar principle applies. Many muscles in the body can act as fixators, preventing unnecessary movement of muscles when other parts of the body are moving. When someone performs a bicep curl, for example, the bicep muscle is the prime mover which regulates the action, while the back, abdominal, shoulder, and wrist muscles act as fixators, supporting the body during the movement.

Most simple fractures can be healed with the use of a cast, which immobilizes the fractured bone and provides the support it needs to heal correctly. Internal or external bone fixation is used as a treatment for complicated fractures which cannot heal through the use of a cast. These devices are fitted during a surgical procedure that sets the fractured bones in place before applying an external or internal fixator.

Internal bone fixation is performed via a procedure called open reduction internal fixation. For this procedure, metal screws, plates, or rods are used to hold fractured bones in place so that they can heal correctly. Severe fractures may require the use of an intermedullary rod, a long thin metal rod which is inserted into a long bone such as a tibia or femur. The rod helps promote healing by sharing the weight-bearing load of the bone as it heals.

External bone fixation tends to be used as a temporary fracture treatment, or may be used in cases where internal fixation is not possible. To fit an external fixator device, holes are first drilled into undamaged bone surrounding the location of the fracture. Metal pins are inserted into the holes, and the external fixation device is then fitted onto the pins and adjusted to provide the necessary support for the fractured bone. Most of the fixation device is located outside the body, with only the metal pins coming into contact with the bone.

Placement of both types of fixator is carried out by an orthopedic surgeon, with the patient under general anesthetic. Internal fixators, particularly intermedullary rods, are often left in place permanently, to provide support to a bone which may have been weakened by a fracture. External fixators are removed once a bone has finished healing; depending on the severity of the fracture this will take at least six weeks, and may take as long as several months.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By Telsyst — On Feb 09, 2014

Sports medicine has helped this field of medicine greatly. In sports, getting a player back in the game is of the utmost importance. There is a vested interest in getting this done in the best way possible.

Many injuries in sports generally happen to the legs and feet of a player, from running and cutting while running. There is always a chance of a player tangling feet with another player or having a player fall on them. From all these different types of injuries doctors have had time to look at different types of treatment. Since the player's main goal is to return to playing form, the doctors need to restore as much natural ability as possible.

A doctor needs to weigh the long term needs of the player. Any medical advancement that hastens healing with as much ability restoration as possible is going to have interest by the sporting community.

Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-a-fixator.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.