Abstract
Open phalangeal and metacarpal fractures of the hand were stabilised using an improvised external fixator. This was in the field hospital in Iraq and on military personnel evacuated to the UK. The fixator was improvised from K-wires and a syringe, both of which are readily available in the field hospital. It is a unilateral frame, sufficiently stable to maintain fracture reduction but not too rigid so as to allow micro-motion for fracture healing. We describe our method and recommend this simple method as a quick and easy form of initial or definitive fracture stabilisation in the hand. In the hostile environment of the field hospital we found this method simple, cost effective and relatively safe.
The abstracts were prepared by Major SA Adams. Correspondence should be addressed to Major M Butler, CSOS, Institute of Naval Medicine, Crescent Road, Alverstoke, Hants PO12 2DL
