Infection rate of percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation for distal radius fractures.
OBJECTIVE
To review the infection rate in 43 patients who underwent percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation for distal radius fractures.


METHODS
Records of 13 men and 30 women aged 25 to 86 (mean, 49) years who underwent closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation for unstable distal radius fractures were reviewed. Each fracture was fixed with 2 to 3 wires of 1.6-mm diameter. Kirschner wires were left protruding through the skin for easy removal, with their ends bent outside the skin to prevent migration. Wounds were cleaned and dressed with gauze and a plaster-of-Paris cast was applied. The severity of the pin tract infection was graded according to the modified Oppenheim classification.


RESULTS
Nine (21%) of the patients developed pin tract infection (3 grade 1, 3 grade 2, 2 grade 3, and one grade 4). Three patients underwent early removal of the Kirschner wires at week 3.


CONCLUSIONS
The infection rate after percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation is unacceptable. Kirschner wires should be buried under the skin to decrease the infection rate.
Lakshmanan
Palaniappan
P
Wansbeck General Hospital, Ashington, United Kingdom. lakunns@gmail.com
Dixit
Varun
V
Reed
Mike R
MR
Sher
Joel Lester
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001864:Bone Wires / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents