To study advantages of external fixation in severe injuries of extremities in children.

305 children at the age from 3 to 17 years with polytrauma (ISS > 18) were studied. From them skeletal injuries took place in 198 patients, cranioskeletal trauma - 125, multiple bone fractures - 56, bone fractures + visceral trauma - 24. 44 children had open bone fractures or fractures accompained with vast defects of soft tissues. Operative interventions in polytrauma are divided into urgent, elective and delayded. Urgent intervention (according to vital indications) are conducted together with anti-shock therapy in massive blood losses (injury of spleen, liver), crushing of lungs, cardiac tamponade, intracranial compression. Elective interventions are prformed after stabilization of patient's state and after bringing him out of shock.

Sets for external fixation were used in acute period of trauma, in early and late posttraumatic period. Tipe of sets depended on character of injury and followed steps of treatment. Indications for external fixation in acute period and catabolic phase of traumatic disease were: 1. multiple fragmental fractures, 2. defects of bones, 3. vast defects of soft tissues, 4. long bone fractures accompained with severe brain trauma. Indications for external fixation in late period were mulunion, in postpond – ununion, deformations and shortening of extremities.

The usage of external fixation was an effective approach in treatment of children with severe complicated injuries of extremities. Advantages of external fixation in conditions of polytrauma were undiscutable: management in force effects, absence of secondary dislocations, good conditions for debridment and follow restorative treatment, mobility of patients.