Kirschner Wire Breakage during Removal Requiring Retrieval
Kirschner wires (K-wires) are widely used for fixation of fractures and dislocations in the hand as they are readily available, reliable, and cost-effective. Complication rates of up to 18% have been reported. However, K-wire breakage during removal is rare. We present one such case illustrating a s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Surgery |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7515760 |
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| _version_ | 1832551997964812288 |
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| author | Kai Yuen Wong Rosalind Mole Patrick Gillespie |
| author_facet | Kai Yuen Wong Rosalind Mole Patrick Gillespie |
| author_sort | Kai Yuen Wong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Kirschner wires (K-wires) are widely used for fixation of fractures and dislocations in the hand as they are readily available, reliable, and cost-effective. Complication rates of up to 18% have been reported. However, K-wire breakage during removal is rare. We present one such case illustrating a simple technique for retrieval. A 35-year-old male presented with a distal phalanx fracture of his right middle finger. This open fracture was treated with K-wire fixation. Postoperatively, he developed a pin site infection with associated finger swelling. The K-wire broke during removal with the proximal piece completely retained in his middle phalanx. To minimise risk of osteomyelitis, the K-wire was removed with a novel surgical technique. He had full return of hand function. Intraoperative K-wire breakage has a reported rate of 0.1%. In our case, there was no obvious cause of breakage and the patient denied postoperative trauma. On the other hand, pin site infections are much more common with reported rates of up to 7% in the hand or wrist. K-wire fixation is a simple method for bony stabilisation but can be a demanding procedure with complications often overlooked. It is important to be aware of the potential sequelae. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1986646fd9cc47179ad265c06438c8b9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-6900 2090-6919 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Surgery |
| spelling | doaj-art-1986646fd9cc47179ad265c06438c8b92025-02-03T05:59:52ZengWileyCase Reports in Surgery2090-69002090-69192016-01-01201610.1155/2016/75157607515760Kirschner Wire Breakage during Removal Requiring RetrievalKai Yuen Wong0Rosalind Mole1Patrick Gillespie2Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Salisbury SP2 8BJ, UKSalisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Salisbury SP2 8BJ, UKCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UKKirschner wires (K-wires) are widely used for fixation of fractures and dislocations in the hand as they are readily available, reliable, and cost-effective. Complication rates of up to 18% have been reported. However, K-wire breakage during removal is rare. We present one such case illustrating a simple technique for retrieval. A 35-year-old male presented with a distal phalanx fracture of his right middle finger. This open fracture was treated with K-wire fixation. Postoperatively, he developed a pin site infection with associated finger swelling. The K-wire broke during removal with the proximal piece completely retained in his middle phalanx. To minimise risk of osteomyelitis, the K-wire was removed with a novel surgical technique. He had full return of hand function. Intraoperative K-wire breakage has a reported rate of 0.1%. In our case, there was no obvious cause of breakage and the patient denied postoperative trauma. On the other hand, pin site infections are much more common with reported rates of up to 7% in the hand or wrist. K-wire fixation is a simple method for bony stabilisation but can be a demanding procedure with complications often overlooked. It is important to be aware of the potential sequelae.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7515760 |
| spellingShingle | Kai Yuen Wong Rosalind Mole Patrick Gillespie Kirschner Wire Breakage during Removal Requiring Retrieval Case Reports in Surgery |
| title | Kirschner Wire Breakage during Removal Requiring Retrieval |
| title_full | Kirschner Wire Breakage during Removal Requiring Retrieval |
| title_fullStr | Kirschner Wire Breakage during Removal Requiring Retrieval |
| title_full_unstemmed | Kirschner Wire Breakage during Removal Requiring Retrieval |
| title_short | Kirschner Wire Breakage during Removal Requiring Retrieval |
| title_sort | kirschner wire breakage during removal requiring retrieval |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7515760 |
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