The bridge and barrel hoop plates as alternatives to external fixation techniques in the foot and ankle.

External fixation is a useful tool for treating severe traumatic injuries to the foot and ankle. External fixation, however, does have associated complications, such as inadequate fixation and pin tract infections. Temporary bridge plating of the medial, lateral, or both columns is a useful alternative to external fixation for treating multilevel foot injuries. This article describes the technique of temporary bridge plating which may be used as an alternative to external fixation.