External fixation for treatment of hand infections.

The indications for external fixation in the treatment of hand infections are limited; however, external fixation, which is considered to be a salvage procedure, has many advantages in selected cases, such as severely contaminated open injuries, septic nonunions, and advanced septic arthritis with segmental bone loss and skin defects. External fixation can be used in different ways and must be included in a planned program for the treatment of bone infection.