title: Insertion of K-wires by hammer generates less heat. A study of drilling and hammering K-wires into bone.
abstract: Laboratory tests were carried out on cadaver animal bones to evaluate the thermal effect of inserting K-wires with a pneumatic hammer as compared to drilling. The mean maximum bone temperature 0.5 mm from the K-wires was 34 (22-72) degrees C using the hammer and 54 (19-100) degrees C for drilling, 1.0 mm from the K-wire the mean maximum temperature was 31 (19-52) degrees C for hammering and 47 (17-91) degrees C for drilling. The mean time for the temperature exposure in the cases of drilling was 50 s and for hammering 41 s. The hammering device may reduce the risk of heat-induced injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Klaipeda City Hospital, Lithuanian Republic.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zegunis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toksvig-Larsen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tikuisis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001864:Bone Wires; D002102:Cadaver; D006358:Hot Temperature; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods*