Biological fracture fixation: a perspective

The concept of biological fracture fixation encompasses a reduction in soft-tissue trauma at the time of surgery, usually involving percutaneous application of plates. This is combined with the implantation of reduced amounts of hardware; the desired result is a fracture that repairs through indirect bone union with the formation of callus. The end result is a fracture that heals faster and is stronger, at least in the healing phase. Biological fixation is not uncommonly utilized in human orthopaedics, particularly for diaphyseal fractures which involve a number (>2) of fragments with articular disruption. This methodology may also have application in veterinary orthopaedics, particularly small animals or the juvenile equid.