A Taylor Spatial Frame on the left leg consisting of metal rings, pins and struts. The Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) is an external fixator used by podiatric and orthopaedic surgeons to treat complex fractures and bone deformities. The medical device shares a number of components and features of the Ilizarov apparatus. The Taylor Spatial Frame is a hexapod device based on a Stewart platform, and was invented by orthopaedic surgeon Charles Taylor. The device consists of two or more aluminum or carbon fibre rings connected by six struts. Each strut can be independently lengthened or shortened to achieve the desired result, e.g. compression at the fracture site, lengthening, etc. Connected to a bone by  wires or half pins, the attached bone can be manipulated in six axes (anterior/posterior, varus/valgus, lengthen/shorten. ) Angular, translational, rotational, and length deformities can all be corrected simultaneously with the TSF. The TSF is used in both adults and children. It is used for the treatment of acute fractures, mal-unions, non-unions and congenital deformities. It can be used on both the upper and lower limbs. Specialised foot rings ( as seen in the picture) are also available for the treatment of complex foot deformities. Once the fixator is attached to the bone, the deformity is characterised by studying the postoperative x-rays, or CT scans. The angular, translational, rotational, and length deformity values are then entered into specialised software, along with parameters such as the ring size and initial strut lengths. The software then produces a "prescription" of strut changes that the patient follows. The struts are adjusted daily by the patient until the correct alignment is achieved. When the bone has sufficiently healed, the frame is dynamised. This is a process of gradually reducing the supportive role of the frame by loosening the struts one at a time . This causes force that was previously transmitted around the fracture site and through the struts to be transmitted through the bone.
A Taylor Spatial Frame on the left leg consisting of metal rings, pins and struts. The Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) is an external fixator used by podiatric and orthopaedic surgeons to treat complex fractures and bone deformities. The medical device shares a number of components and features of the Ilizarov apparatus. The Taylor Spatial Frame is a hexapod device based on a Stewart platform, and was invented by orthopaedic surgeon Charles Taylor. The device consists of two or more aluminum or carbon fibre rings connected by six struts. Each strut can be independently lengthened or shortened to achieve the desired result, e.g. compression at the fracture site, lengthening, etc. Connected to a bone by tensioned wires or half pins, the attached bone can be manipulated in three dimensions and 9 degrees of freedom. Angular, translational, rotational, and length deformities can all be corrected simultaneously with the TSF. The TSF is used in both adults and children. It is used for the treatment of acute fractures, mal-unions, non-unions and congenital deformities. It can be used on both the upper and lower limbs. Specialised foot rings ( which are not seen in the picture) are also available for the treatment of complex foot deformities. Once the fixator is attached to the bone, the deformity is characterised by studying the postoperative x-rays, or CT scans. The angular, translational, rotational, and length deformity values are then entered into specialised software, along with mounting parameters and hardware parameters such as the ring size and initial strut lengths. The software then produces a "prescription" of strut changes that the patient follows. The struts are adjusted daily by the patient until the correct alignment is achieved. When the bone has sufficiently healed, the frame can be dynamised. This is a process of gradually reducing the supportive role of the frame by reducing the length stability . This causes force that was previously transmitted around the fracture site and through the struts to be transmitted through the bone.
A
tensioned
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six axes (anterior/posterior, varus/valgus, lengthen/shorten. )
three dimensions and 9 degrees of freedom.
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as
which are not
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parameters
mounting parameters and hardware parameters
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is
can be
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loosening the struts one at a time
reducing the length stability