Kirschner wire

Last updated
Intraoperative X-ray of a humerus fixated by Kirschner wires Kirschner wires ulna.jpg
Intraoperative X-ray of a humerus fixated by Kirschner wires

Kirschner wires or K-wires or pins are sterilized, sharpened, smooth stainless steel pins. Introduced in 1909 by Martin Kirschner, the wires are now widely used in orthopedics and other types of medical and veterinary surgery. They come in different sizes and are used to hold bone fragments together (pin fixation) or to provide an anchor for skeletal traction. The pins are often driven into the bone through the skin (percutaneous pin fixation) using a power or hand drill. They also form part of the Ilizarov apparatus.

Contents

Kirschner wires used for fixation of a Colles' fracture Wrist Kirschner Wires.jpg
Kirschner wires used for fixation of a Colles' fracture

Variations

Indications

Complications

For hand fracture fixation, whether K-wires should be buried or left protruding from the skin remains a topic of debate [6] and ongoing research.

See also

References

  1. Sussex Hand Surgery (January 2018). "K Wire Fixation of Hand Fractures" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  2. Cebesoy O, Subasi M, Arpacioglu O (August 2007). "Finsen V, Hofstad M, Haugan H. A rare complication in scaphoid pseudoarthrosis: intraarticlar migration and breaking of Kirschner wire". Injury. 38 (8): 988–9. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2007.04.011. PMID   17631883.
  3. Mitsuo Nakayama, MD; Masatoshi Gika, MD; Hiroki Fukuda, MD; Takeshi Yamahata, MD; Kohei Aoki, MD; Syugo Shiba, MD; Keisuke Eguchi, MD (2009). "Migration of a Kirschner Wire From the Clavicle Into the Intrathoracic Trachea". Ann Thorac Surg . 88 (2): 653–654. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2008.12.093 . PMID   19632433.
  4. Robert Mazet Jr. (1943). "Migration of a Kirschner Wire From the Shoulder Region Into the Lung:Report of Two Cases". Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery . 25 (2): 477–483. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  5. Lenard L, Aradi D, Donauer E (April 2009). "Migrating Kirschner wire in the heart mimics acute coronary syndrome". Eur Heart J . 30 (7): 754. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehn548 . PMID   19066210.
  6. Gardiner, Matthew D.; Gardiner, Sonya; Issa, Fadi; Jain, Abhilash; Lloyd-Hughes, Hawys; Pezas, Theodore; Rodrigues, Jeremy N.; Wormald, Justin C. R.; Acquaah, Frank; Brierley, Neil; Bickerton, Shixin; Chow, Whitney; Clutton, Juliet; Coulson, Samuel; Crowley, Pat; Edmondson, Sarah Jayne; Fowler, Andy; Gallagher, Michael; Howles, Sophie; Jones, Jonathan; Khan, Lubna; Kulendran, Dharini; Langley, Clare; Manton, Robert; Mohamed, Mohamed; Ng, Lisa; Salibi, Andrej; Sameer, Gujral; Segaren, Nic; Sharma, Kavita; Shiatis, Andreas; Steele, Kathryn; Jay-Stewart, Camilla; Suwito, Cindy; Tam, Amy; Thind, Arron; Wade, Ryckie; Wielogorska, Natasha; Young, Katie (April 2018). "Buried Versus Exposed Kirschner Wires Following Fixation of Hand Fractures". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open. 6 (4): e1747. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000001747 . PMC   5977964 . PMID   29876183.