Patent ID: 7931651

Claim:
A method for applying external fixation to a bone defect comprising the steps of: A. inserting a fixator pin through a skin opening and into bone, the pin comprising i. a hollow shaft having an insertion end for insertion into the bone and an attachment end for positioning externally to the bone for communication with a vacuum source, said shaft forming a bore that extends along a longitudinal axis of the shaft and having a port in communication with the bore; ii. a threaded section of the shaft for securing the pin in the bone; and iii. a plurality of apertures that extend through a wall of the shaft in fluid communication with the bore, said apertures located proximate a region of the attachment end and external to the insertion end to provide a plurality of apertures for communication with a location external to the bone; B. connecting the pin to a fixator device; C. positioning a porous reduced-pressure distribution element around the pin, said porous reduced-pressure distribution element adapted to distribute negative pressure; D. covering the skin opening and the porous reduced-pressure distribution element with a removable cover to create a sealed enclosure around the pin, the cover disposed at a location relative to the apertures of the pin such that the enclosure communicates with the apertures to provide negative pressure to the enclosure through the apertures; E. connecting a vacuum source with the hollow shaft of the pin via a flexible tube removably connectable with the port on the pin to supply negative pressure to the pin; and F. activating the vacuum source to apply a reduced pressure to the sealed enclosure through the pin apertures.