Military Speedfix - A New Versatile External Fixator for Combat Injuries
Abstract
External fixators are the first choice for severe fractures in long bones on the battlefield. The applied fixators of different medical services in NATO are mostly bulky in shape, difficult to mount, unstable or too complex to understand. It was the intent of the NATO working group STANAG 2469 to improve the standards for the external fixation of long bones. The Italian proposal for a general fixation system was opposed by the US and German delegates in terms of lack of reducibility after mounting, questionable stability and applicability. The German group favours a special military fixator on the basis of the Speedfix (Smith & Nephew). A special design allows the fixation of the clamp for one fragment in one step by one screw or lever-arm. The weight, versatility and stability of the new fixator were tested and found to be stable enough also for the femur. It is reducible after mounting and easy to understand (one bar system). The price is also comparable to the common systems on the market. The clinical tests are now under observations. Acceptance by the surgeons is high, the duration of implantation short, and the stability excellent. So we conclude, that the new military speedfix can probably replace the older systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA444953
Entities
People
- H. Gerngross