What was the question? The treatment of multi-injured patients requires initial stabilization of general conditions and vital parameters. The first stage in orthopedic management of the fractures in trauma involves stabilization of the bone segments to reduce blood loss and allow nursing. External fixators are fast, versatile and essential in the emergency situation in cases of multiple fractures, especially with soft tissue loss. According to damage control orthopedics (DCO) concepts, it is possible to replace an external fixator (EF) with internal synthesis (ORIF) after a period of time to reduce the risks of ORIF. However, surgery can be difficult to perform and pin sites can be the source of bone infection, in which the EF as a definitive treatment option may be considered. How did you answer the question? In trauma surgery, instability of the hardware, fractures near the joint, frame extending across the knee and the ankle, initial fixation was converted to definitive treatment with circular frames according to the Ilizarov method. Fourteen patients (2 female and 12 males; age 24 to 80 yrs, average age 43,4 y/o) were treated with various circular framses as definitive treatment: Ilizarov (2), Sheffield (7), Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) (4) and TrueLok (1) between November 2002 and December 2007 in multiply injured patients with ISS > 20. Seven cases were femoral and seven tibial. The femoral group had four knee spanning fixator configurations and three unilateral external fixators. The tibial group had 4 unilateral frames, 1 hybrid EF, 1 across the knee EF and 1 across the ankle EF. Five patients had temporary femoral and tibial hardwares in the same side. Three patients had unilateral tibial and femoral fractures. What are the results? All patients achieved consolidation. The mean duration of femoral EF was 7.6 months (5–9 months). One bone loss in a distal femoral shaft treated with Sheffield EF had lengthening (5 cm) after acute short-hening. Two patients had a gradual distal femoral fracture reduction and a mechanical axis correction by TSF. Three patients with tibial bone loss had 2 trifocal bone transport (17,5 and 9 cm) and 1 bifocal bone transport 5 cm. The TSF had no additional pre-operative planning and major post-operative frame adjustments. The intra-operative devices was easier for the TSF. What are your conclusions? Circular frame osteosynthesis following initial EF, is a reliable and effective strategy for treatment in severe open femur and tibia fractures and post traumatic reconstruction.

Introduction: External fixation has evolved from a mean to hold a bone in position to one that allows a gradual correction and lengthening. Platelet gel has been reported to be effective in enhancing osteogenesis. The association of these techniques could be effective in the treatment of pottraumatic bone loss fracture.

Materials and methods: Platelet gel has been obtained mixing 50 mL of autologous platelet concentrate to 2.5 mL of fibrin glue, produced from autologous FFP through CS-1 Cryoseal Thermogenesis.

Patient 1: Male, 39 years old, smoker, bearing tibial non-union with 17 cm bone loss has been treated by trifocal technique with platelet gel in the docking site procedure with autologous bone graft.

Patient 2: Male, 43 years old, smoker, suffering from exposed femoral fracture with sovracondilar bone loss, treated by acute shortening and proximal osteotomy in order to improve distractional ostogenesis according to Ilizarov method. Platelet gel had been positioned in the non-union sovracondilar site.

Results. Patient 1 has reached a good bone repair in the platelet gel application site within 4 months. Patient 2 has healed within 3 months.