- Percutaneous pinning
Percutaneous pinning is a technique used by
orthopedic surgeons for the stabilisation of unstable fractures.Many fractures can be manipulated into wholly satisfactory positions, immobilised in an appropriate
cast and allowed to heal. Some fractures, however, cannot be held in a satisfactory position by this method, and require some additional form of fixation. This is the usual situation with all displaced fractures of the firstmetacarpal and of theproximal phalanges of the hand, and of about two thirds of fractures of thedistal end of the radius.Pinning involves the manipulation, with X-ray guidance, of the fracture into an acceptable position, and the immediate insertion of metal pins, called
Kirschner wire s, through the skin, into one bone fragment and across the fracture line into the other bone fragment. These pins are normally left in position for some four to six weeks, and are removed when the fracture has healed.See also
*
Distal radius fracture References
*cite book
last = Fernandez
first = Diego L.
coauthors = Jesse B. Jupiter
title = Fractures of the Distal Radius: A Practical Approach to Management
edition = Second edition
year = 2002
publisher = Springer
isbn = 0-387-95195-4
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