Guidelines for treatment of open fractures and infected pseudarthroses by external fixation.

There are three phases in the treatment of open fractures and infected pseudarthroses by the Hoffmann external fixator. During the initial phase a careful surgical debridement is performed in the bony tissues, and the external fixator is applied in a manner appropriate to the type and level of the lesion site (double- or triple-frame mounting; additional anchorages; neutralization, compression, or distraction; ligamentotaxis). During the intermediate phase both the nursing of the patient and care of the apparatus are critical for the avoidance of complications; it is during this period that granulation tissue must develop and bone infections must be controlled. In the final phase the loss of osseous substance must be treated by various means (regular tightening of the external fixator; Papineau's technique; intertibiofibular graft; free microvascular bone transplantation technique.