title: Complications of K-wire fixation of fractures and dislocations in the hand and wrist.
abstract: Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation of fractures and dislocations of the hand and wrist is a common procedure. Of the 590 K-wire fixations performed on 236 patients, 36 (15.2%) experienced complications which included osteomyelitis, tendon rupture, nerve lesion, pin tract infection, pin loosening or migration. There were no deep soft-tissue pin infections or pyarthrosis. Technical failure, mainly when the procedure was performed by residents, and poor patient compliance were the major causes of complications. K-wire fixation is a simple but demanding procedure that cannot be left to an inexperienced resident. Elimination of technical failure, supervision in the operating room, close monitoring, prompt treatment upon discovery of a complication, and improvement of patient compliance can reduce the rate of complications.
authors.affiliation: Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa. mdstahl@tx.technion.ac.il
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*