Kirschner wire

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Kirschner wires or K wires or pins are sterilized, sharpened, smooth stainless steel pins used in orthopaedics 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.

Variations

Threaded K wires are manufactured. They are used in situations where backing out of the pin is undesirable but they are weaker.
"Denham Pins" are strong stout wires with a threaded portion in the middle. They are used for skeletal traction with the threads engaging the bone.

Indications

K wires are used for temporary fixation during some operations. After definitive fixation they are then removed.
They can be used for definitive fixation if the fracture fragments are small (eg wrist fractures and hand injuries). In some settings they can be used for Intramedullary fixation of bones such as the ulna.
Tension band wiring is a technique in which the bone fragments are transfixed by K wires which are then also used as an anchor for a loop of flexible wire. As the loop is tightened the bone fragments are compressed together. Fractures of the kneecap and the olecranon process of the elbow are commonly treated by this method.
In skeletal traction a wire is passed through the skin then transversely through the bone and out the other side of the limb. The wire is then attached to some form of traction so that the pull is applied directly to bone.
They can be used for temporary immobilization of a joint.

Complications

Pin Track Infection: Because K wires often pass through the skin into bone they form a potential passage for bacteria from the skin to migrate into the bone and cause an infection. The area around the pin becomes red and swollen and may start to drain pus. Usually this infection clears up if the pin is removed.
Breakage: K wires may bend or break, especially if the fracture does not heal
Loss of fixation: Smooth K wires may back out of the bone losing the fixation. This is especially likely if they pass between two mobile bones.

Migration of K wires can occur; instead of backing out the wire can move deeper. K wires passed across the Acromio Clavicular joint in the shoulder have been found to migrate into the chest with the potential to penetrate the major blood vessels or the heart.

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