Definition
A surgical method of stabilizing a bone using devices such as nails, plates, and screws that are implanted entirely within the body, as opposed to external fixation. In limb lengthening, internal fixation typically refers to the use of an intramedullary nail.
Updated
Sources
- Erverdi N, Motro M. Brief History of Distraction Osteogenesis. Springer, 2015.Public sourceAccessed 2026-02-19
- Ilizarov GA. The tension-stress effect on the genesis and growth of tissues: Part II. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1989;239:263-285. PMID: 2912628Public sourceAccessed 2026-02-19
- Mahboubian S, et al. Ilizarov principles of deformity correction. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2010;92(2):101-105. PMC3025247Public sourceAccessed 2026-02-19
Informational only. Not medical advice.