Saudi Gazette report

MAKAKH — The first Ilizarov surgery in Abeer Medical Group was performed in Saudi National Hospital in the holy city of Makkah recently.

Ilizarov external fixation device was used at a patient with high energy trauma from road traffic accident with multi-level fractures at tibia and fibula accompanied with severe soft tissue injuries.

Dr. Sherif Tawfik Sarhan, registrar orthopedic surgery certified by an advanced training fellowship in management of complicated fractures using external fixators, said that "Ilizarov" technique is the best management way in complicated fractures that are not suitable for traditional methods such as splints, plates or nails.

In most of these fractures, he said, the periosteum and blood circulation responsible for bone healing are damaged. This technique is performed without surgical opening, thus preserving the soft tissues and circulation allowing for a biological bone healing with the ability to correct any bone shortening or angulation, if found during the treatment plan. Moreover the patient can walk normally with Ilizarov after operation to avoid any vascular complications.