What is K-wire in surgery?

A Kirschner wire (also called a K-wire) is a thin metallic wire or pin that can be used to stabilize bone fragments. These wires can be drilled through the bone to hold the fragments in place. They can be placed percutaneously (through the skin) or can be buried beneath the skin.

How long should K wires be left in?

The K wires are generally left in place for an average of 2 to 3 weeks. When the fracture is not tender to firm palpation between a thumb and index finger, the K wires can usually be removed; this is a clinically healed fracture.

Can I walk after K-wire removal?

The foot must be kept dry, dressed and the k-wire protected in a post operative shoe for six weeks after the operation. At 6 weeks, the K- wire is removed and the foot can then be placed in normal footwear and normal bathing can be resumed. The toe joint will not bend after this procedure.

Can K wires be left in?

K-wires can be buried and left in situ until union or they can be left unburied and require removal after four weeks, with plaster immobilisation until union. There is no consensus as to whether wire burial is preferable or not.

Is removal of K-wires painful?

The removal of K-wires is usually very quick – each wire removal only takes one to two seconds. Your child may feel tugging, along with some very brief discomfort. Young patients who have had the procedure usually say ‘it wasn’t too painful’ or ‘it’s OK, it’s just a little sore’.

Can K-wires get wet?

24 hours after sutures are removed, the surgical area can get wet in the shower. Wait until 1 week after the K-kire is removed before soaking in the bathtub or a hot tub. The K-wires will be removed in week three.

How do they remove K wire?

The K-wires stick out of the skin so that they can be easily removed once the bone has healed. They are covered with a dressing and a plaster cast and you / the patient will not be able to see them; alternatively they may be exposed out of the toe/finger. The K-wires can usually be removed in the Outpatient Department.

What happens after pins are removed?

After the Surgery Your child will most likely have a splint, cast or bandage after surgery. It is very important that these remain in place and not be removed at any time. It is also very important that the splint, cast or bandage remain completely dry. This will help prevent skin issues or infection at the pin sites.

How long do pins stay in after finger surgery?

Pins are usually removed from 3 to 6 weeks after surgery. Screws and plates are not removed unless problems develop.

Do surgical pins need to be removed?

Removal may be indicated if there are signs of metal irritation, including pain and pressure at the insertion site. Your doctor would need to determine whether the screws are causing the problem or if there is some other cause.

How painful is it to have pins removed?

Pin Removal Elbow pins are usually removed in the office in a matter of seconds. Although patients may be anxious or cry, it is not a painful procedure, so they need not be scared. We usually place an Ace wrap over the pin sites, which can be replaced with a bandage the next day.

What kind of wire is a K wire?

K wires (Kirschner wires) are a type of stabilization wire/pin used in orthopaedic surgery. They are pointed stainless steel wires that can be used in multiple roles during internal fixation: Steinmann pins (or “intramedullary pins”) are a similar type of fixation wire/pin.

How are K wires used in orthopaedic surgery?

K wires (Kirschner wires) are a type of stabilization wire/pin used in orthopaedic surgery. They are pointed stainless steel wires that can be used in multiple roles during internal fixation: as a temporary measure before more definitive fixation thin wires are especially useful for smaller bones (e.g. hands, paediatrics)

What are the risks of using a K wire?

There are possible complications associated with the use of K-wires: Infection: The location of pin insertion can be a source for infection to enter the body. 2  If left through the skin, bacteria can travel along the pin tract and get deeper into the body, and possibly to the bone.

When did Martin Kirschner invent the K wire?

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.