The external fixator in small animal orthopaedics

The external fixator is an increasingly popular means of fracture fixation in small animals. Pins inserted into the affected bone are clamped to a rigid metal rod adjacent to the limb, thus neutralising forces through the bone. This system of fixation is versatile and inexpensive, and is well suited to treatment of a variety of small animal and exotic injuries including open or comminuted fractures, fractures of the mandible and joint instability.