What is Kirschner wire made of?
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.
What is a surgical K wire?
Kirschner wires (K-wires) are stiff, straight wires that are sometimes needed to repair a fracture (broken bone). K-wires are also commonly called ‘pins’. If your child has a fracture that requires surgery, they may need K-wires to help hold the bones in place until they heal.
What is orthopedic wire?
Orthopaedic cerclage wires are made of medical quality stainless steel. Monofilaments are used because they are more rigid and easier to twist. They come in several diameters that are expressed in gauges (GA). The most commonly used are 18 GA in dogs and 20–22 GA in small dogs and cats.
Are K-wires made of titanium?
Made of implant steel or titanium Our Wires are manufactured out of implant steel (1.4441) and by request out of titanium. Both materials offer highest biocompatibility.
Is K-wire removal painful?
Removal of the K-Wires This procedure is quick and may feel strange but is not usually too uncomfortable. The small wounds may bleed a little and dressings will be applied. You / the patient will be advised how long these dressings should stay on, or if you need further dressings.
Is it painful to remove K-wire?
How is K-wire inserted?
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 are Kirschner wires measured?
The difference between a pin and a wire is largely one of diameter. Pins are between 1.5 mm (1/16 inch) and 6.5 mm (1/4 inch) in diameter. Kirschner wires (K-wires) are 0.9 to 1.5 mm (0.035, 0.045, 0.062 inches) in diameter (1). Pins and wires are of varying lengths and also vary in the end construction.
Can K-wire break?
Breakage of the K-wires can occur during surgery either due to metal fatigue or due poor technique.
How long do K-wires stay in for?
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 you 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.
Do K-wires go through the bone?
How painful is K-wire removal?
How can you tell the difference between a K-wire and a Steinmann pin?
Steinmann Pins are similar to K-wires (Kirschner wires) but typically have larger diameters. These pins typically have trocar, chisel, or spherical ends. Steinmann pins can have partially threaded or smooth outside diameters.
How do doctors remove K-wires?
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 or finger.
What is the healing time after K-wire removal?
The author observed that the recovery in three patients took an average of 6 weeks after removal of the wires and only after exploration and adhesiolysis of the ulnar nerve.
How long does it take to recover from K-wire surgery?
Depending on the fragments of fractures present, K Wire Fixation surgery can take around 1-2 hours to complete. What is the recovery time for K Wire Fixation? Individuals who undergo K Wire fixation may take around 2-5 weeks to completely recover after the removal of the needles.
Can you walk with K-wire?
How long do K-wires stay in toes for?
K-Wire Arthrodesis. 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.