What type of fixation involves hardware inserted through bone and skin, held rigid with a cross brace outside of the body?

The correct answer, external skeletal fixation, refers to a surgical procedure used primarily in orthopedic surgery to stabilize broken bones or complex fractures. In this method, a framework is created outside the body, consisting of pins or screws that are inserted through the skin and into the bone. These are then connected to a rigid external structure or frame, often referred to as a cross brace, which secures the bones in the correct position during the healing process.

This technique is particularly advantageous because it allows for stabilization without the need for invasive internal procedures, making it useful for certain types of fractures, including those that are compound or involve significant soft tissue damage. External fixation can also be easily adjusted and provides the ability to monitor and manage the healing process externally.

Internal fixation, on the other hand, involves the placement of hardware, like plates or screws, directly inside the body to stabilize bone fragments. Soft tissue fixation typically refers to the stabilization of soft tissues rather than bone, which is not applicable here. Bone grafting involves using bone tissue to promote healing or fusion but does not serve the purpose of stabilizing fractures in the same way that external fixation does.

Thus, the characteristic of inserting hardware through bone and skin and securing it to a brace outside the body accurately describes external