Journal List > J Korean Orthop Assoc > v.20(5) > 1124171

Woo, Moon, and Choi: Experience of the Clinical Application of the Wagner's Apparatus in the Lower Extremity

Abstract

Diaphyseal fractures of the long bone associated with massive soft tissue injury or severe comminution is difficult to treat. Fracture healing is often delayed due to the damaged soft tissue, deep seated wound infection, fracture instability and poor local circulation. The delayed fracture healing necessitates prolonged immobilization of the limb which results in joint stiffness. Various type of fracture treatment was suggested for this type of fractures to ease the treatment. The Wagner's apparatus was one of the device to treat it, which was originally introduced as a device for controlled leg lengthening. Its use also has been expanded to serve as a rigid unilateral external fixation frame for fracture. In order to obtain satisfactory fracture union without adjacent joint contracture, the Wagner's apparatus has been employed by us in three cases who were hospitalized in Kangnam St. May's Hospital. The experience of this technique was very encouraging; therefore we recommend its wide application in fracture treatment in cases of the patient who can not receive the bilateral external fixation frame.

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