Third place: MRI safety of external fixation devices: A review of the literature

Orthopaedic trauma patients often require temporary stabilization prior to definitive treatment following the principles of damage control orthopaedics (DCO). DCO includes the use of temporary or supplemental implants including pelvic external fixators, large external fixators, small external fixators, ring external fixators, skeletal traction, cervical traction, and cervical halo fixation. Once provisional stabilization has been obtained, and the patient is optimized medically, further testing can be performed prior to definitive stabilization. Since MRI may be required before definitive fixation, it is necessary to understand MRI safety in patients with external fixation devices.