2025 AMA Research Challenge – Member Premier Access

October 22, 2025

Virtual only, United States

Would you like to see your presentation here, made available to a global audience of researchers?
Add your own presentation or have us affordably record your next conference.

Background Hexapod external fixators are used for fracture treatment, deformity correction, and limb lengthening. Although they are very powerful tools, they pose several challenges including their size, pin track infections, and patient physical and mental discomfort.. Therefore, any intervention minimizing the time spent in the frame is desirable. In the setting of fractures, controlled micro-motion has demonstrated greater circumferential callus formation and greater mechanical strength compared to rigid fixation. Historically, controlled “accordion” motion at the fracture or osteotomy site has been utilized to promote healing. We have utilized an automated hexapod to provide ongoing mechanical stimulation during deformity correction and/or lengthening. We report on the early results in this case series. Methods We queried an IRB approved database for all patients who underwent deformity correction or lengthening with a hexapod external fixator from May 2020 to June 2025. Demographic data as well as treatment parameters were recorded. Results Seven patients were included in our study. Two of these patients had double level osteotomies, totaling nine corrections for this study. Three patients had lengthening ranging from 1.0 - 3.7 cm. The mean time in the external fixator was 190.3 days. Ultimately seven out of seven osteotomies healed with 2 additional osteotomies still in treatment. There was one patient with an unplanned return to the operating room for inadequate frame stability and early conversion to internal fixation. Conclusion The use of HEF with automated mechanical stimulation has potential to assist with healing and bony union. It is difficult to compare results with the existing literature, but these encouraging findings warrant further research to refine these methods and compare its efficacy against alternative techniques.

Next from 2025 AMA Research Challenge – Member Premier Access

Chemotherapy induced accumulation of PGE2 & resulting immunotherapy resistance

Chemotherapy induced accumulation of PGE2 & resulting immunotherapy resistance

2025 AMA Research Challenge – Member Premier Access

Justin Korossy

22 October 2025