Abstract— In this article, doctors want to draw attention to the possibilities of treatment of periprosthetic fractures of femur. They present their own experiences with the treatment of these fractures by using various types of internal and external fixation. In this article, Engineers report about the new design of external fixators invented at the VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava and at the Trauma Centre of The University Hospital in Ostrava together with MEDIN a.s. companiy. These fixators are intended for the treatment of open, unstable and complicated fractures in traumatology and orthopaedics for humans or animals limbs. The new design is based on the development of Ilizarov and other techniques (i.e. shape and weight optimalization based on composite materials, application of smart materials, nanotechnology, low x-ray absorption, antibacterial protection, patient's comfort, reduction in the duration of the surgical treatment, and cost). Keywords — biomechanics, traumatology, orthopaedics, design, experiments, numerical modelling, external fixators, fractures, periprosthetic fractures, limbs I. INTRODUCTION HANGES in lifestyle, increased age and development of endoprosthetics are connected with increased occurrence of periprosthetic and other types of fractures in recent years, see [9]. There are descriptions of several possibilities of treatment of these fractures including their complications. For example, incidence of periprosthetic fractures after the Assoc. Prof. M.Sc. Karel FRYDRÝŠEK, Ph.D., ING-PAED IGIP, Department of Mechanics of Materials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava, Czech Republic (phone: +420 597323495, e-mail: karel.frydrysek@vsb.cz). Assoc. prof., M.D. Leopold PLEVA, Ph.D., Trauma Centre, University Hospital in Ostrava, 17. listopadu 1790, 708 52 Ostrava, Czech Republic (e- mail: leopold.pleva@fno.cz). M.Sc. Oldřich UČEŇ, Ph.D.; Department of Production Machines and Design; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava, Czech Republic (e-mail: oldrich.ucen@vsb.cz). M.Sc. Tomáš KUBÍN, Ph.D.; Department of Production Machines and Design; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava, Czech Republic (e-mail: tomas.kubin@vsb.cz). M.D. Milan ŠÍR, Trauma Centre, University Hospital in Ostrava, 17. listopadu 1790, 708 52 Ostrava, Czech Republic (e-mail: milan.sir@fno.cz). M.D. Roman MADEJA, Trauma Centre, University Hospital in Ostrava, 17. listopadu 1790, 708 52 Ostrava, Czech Republic (e-mail: roman.madeja@fno.cz). M.Sc. Luboš ŽILKA, MEDIN, a.s., Vlachovická 619, Nové Město na Moravě 592 31, Czech Republic (e-mail: lubos.zilka@medin.cz). application of the total arthroplasty varies. The incidence between 0.6–2.5 % was described in cases of supracondylar fractures above the femoral component of knee arthroplasty, see [10]. The creation of these fractures is preceded by accident (as in case of other fractures) or there is a slow process of bone corruption for various reasons. The fracture then is caused by minimal trauma. In many cases, patients do not even mention the accident. The fracture turns up during a common activity. Fig. 1 X-ray Rorabeck type II fracture – lateral view (source internet [12]) Hence, treatment of periprosthetic fractures is a challenge for the surgeon because of decreased bone quality and complicating systemic diseases The most prevalent type of periprosthetic fracture is the Rorabeck type II, see Fig. 1 and [11] − [13]. Recommended treatment options are plating, external fixation and retrograde intramedullary nailing (RIMN), see Fig. 2. There is still continuing debate which treatment option is optimal for these patients. There is no consensus on the technique to be used but logically it must be minimally invasive to decrease mortality and morbidity, see [5] and [13] − [15]. Stable osteosynthesis obtained by minimal New External Fixators for Treatment of Complicated Periprosthetic Fractures K. Frydrýšek, L. Pleva, O. Učeň, T. Kubín, M. Šír, R. Madeja, L. Žilka C INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING Issue 2, Volume 7, 2013 43