Objective Although it may have been criticized and questioned by numerous authors, external fixation holds its place in modern orthopaedics and traumatology. The aim of this paper is to show the applicability of the unilateral 3D external fixation in everyday practice. Methods For external fixation of the bones, we used unilateral 3D external fixators according to Mitkovic. Results In the Republic of Serbia, the Mitkovic unilateral 3D external fixation system has been used in over 30,000 cases. The indication field of applicability of this method is wide. External fixation method was mostly used for the treatment of open and closed tibial fractures at all levels, in open femoral fractures as a part of the “staging” protocol and in fractures of the upper limbs. We used external fixation for the treatment of nonunions, malunions, in the treatment of osteitis, septic pseudoarthrosis, angular knee deformities, post-traumatic deformities, for limb lengthening and in replantation surgery. Conclusion The unilateral external fixator enables 3D biomechanical stability and is suitable for use in everyday traumatology and orthopaedics practice.

Rationale, aims and objectives: The main component of error minimization in operating rooms (ORs) is to maintain high reliability of surgical teams. The analysis of adverse events in the OR reveals deficiencies in cognitive and interpersonal skills as the main factors influencing surgeons’ errors. Therefore, research of these additional factors is necessary, besides factors related to surgeons’ clinical knowledge and technical skills. In this paper, the key factors for evaluating activities in surgical operating rooms are identified. Method: Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is used for the identification of key factors. Fifteen key factors are identified for evaluating activities in surgical operating rooms to improve the efficiency of surgical operations. For each group of activities (surgical ’capabilities’, operating room characteristics, and non-technical skills), five factors are identified. Results: As the most important, the following factors are obtained: communication, indoor environment standardization, and tool handle design. Conclusions: The aim of the analysis of these key factors is surgeons’ work capability enhancement, rational design of operating rooms, and advancement of operators’ cognitive and interpersonal skills.