Some of the most powerful innovations in medicine aren’t about reinventing what we use, but rethinking who can access it.
From a workshop in the UK to operating theatres in Ukraine and beyond, one small device is reshaping trauma care on a global scale.
The external fixator is a humble yet essential piece of surgical equipment, a skeletal frame that holds broken bones in place while they heal. In conflict zones or low-resource environments, it’s often the difference between saving or losing a limb.
But for decades, access to this vital device has been limited by cost.
Commercial systems can cost around £7,000 each, and are typically designed for single use. For hospitals in war-torn regions or countries with limited resources, that price tag is simply unachievable, and lives are lost not for lack of medical skill, but because the right tools aren’t within reach.
Recognising this urgent need, the WEM Fund (WEMF) has partnered with Medical Aid International and Steve Mannion, a leading UK orthopaedic surgeon and humanitarian, to launch the MedAidFx® Fixator Campaign, a project that’s redefining accessibility in trauma care.
Together, we’re delivering a British-made, reusable external fixator that costs just £550 per unit and can be reused up to 150 times.
That’s the same surgical outcome at a fraction of the cost, and thousands more patients who can now receive life-saving treatment.
| Device | Cost | Reusability | Cost per 150 Treatments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Device (single-use) | £7,000 | 1 | £1,050,000 |
| MedAidFx® (reusable) | £550 | 150 | £82,500 |
Already deployed in Ukraine, Malawi, and Zambia, the MedAidFx® is proving to be a practical, scalable, and sustainable solution, extending trauma care far beyond what was previously possible.
Every MedAidFx® unit represents the best of British engineering combined with humanitarian purpose.
It’s designed not for profit, but for reach, a simple, effective tool that saves lives wherever it’s placed in the right hands.
While initially developed in response to the conflict in Ukraine, the MedAidFx® has a much broader role to play. Its relevance extends to Gaza, Central Africa, Asia, and South America, anywhere that experienced surgeons are working in resource-limited environments.
Through the MedAidFx® Fixator Campaign, WEMF aims to raise £1,000,000 to deliver thousands of reusable fixators directly to hospitals and field surgical teams in the greatest need.
We’ve already supplied 250 units to Ukraine, each one helping to save limbs, lives, and futures, however, the demand is far greater, and hundreds more are urgently needed.
→ To explore partnership or sponsorship opportunities, please contact us directly.
WEMF operates as a restricted fund under Humanitas (UK Registered Charity Number 1114639), Gift Aid claims are managed by Humanitas.
