Taylor Spatial Frame

The Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) is an external fixator used by podiatric and orthopaedic surgeons to treat complex fractures[1] and bone deformities.

[citation needed] Once the fixator is attached to the bone, the deformity is characterised by studying the postoperative x-rays, or CT scans.

For simpler fractures where no deformity is present the struts may still be adjusted post-surgery to achieve better bone alignment, but the correction takes less time.

Once the deformity has been corrected, the frame is then left on the limb until the bone fully heals.

For open comminuted fractures of the tibial plateau the use of circular frames (like TSF) has markedly reduced infection rates.

Infection of the pin sites (points where wires enter the skin) of the TSF is a common complication (estimates are that it affects 20% percent of patients).

[5] Common practice involves the regular cleaning of the pin sites with chlorhexidine gluconate solution (advice varies from every day to every week), regular showering, and dressing of sites that exude liquid with non-woven gauze soaked in chlorhexidine gluconate.

Advice varies as to whether scab tissue or any "crust" surrounding a pin site should be maintained.