Trauma: Principles of External Fixation
Course Details
Date: May 31, 2026. 7:30 am
Location: Skill Lab, Al Najaf Teaching Hospital
Course Goals
The goal of this course is to provide residents with the surgical confidence to apply external fixation as both a temporary "damage control" measure and a definitive treatment modality. We prioritize the understanding of cross-sectional anatomy to ensure safe pin placement and the biomechanics of frame assembly to achieve optimal fracture stability.
Target Participants
- Junior Orthopedic Residents.
- Trauma Fellows seeking to refine pelvic fixation techniques.
- Emergency Surgical Teams involved in initial polytrauma stabilization.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify Anatomical Safe Zones for pin insertion in the femur, tibia, and humerus to avoid neurovascular injury.
- Apply Rapid External Fixation for long bone fractures (femur and tibia) following damage control orthopedics (DCO) principles.
- Construct Pelvic External Frames, specifically identifying the landmarks for supra-acetabular and iliac crest pin placement.
- Analyze Frame Biomechanics to understand how pin diameter, number, and bar distance affect the stiffness of the construct.
- Manage Pin Sites effectively to minimize the risk of infection and maintain long-term frame stability.
- Demonstrate Proficiency in the Orthofix system, including the proper use of clamps, bars, and specialized pins.
Course Highlights
- Long Bone Workshops: Hands-on practice applying unilateral and modular frames to femoral and tibial sawbones models.
- Pelvic Fixation Lab: Focused training on the "Emergency Pelvic Frame" to stabilize life-threatening pelvic ring disruptions.
- Safe Zone Mapping: A dedicated session reviewing cross-sectional anatomy to prevent common complications.