What is kirschner or K wire?
A Kirschner wire or K wire is a thin wire or pin that is used to stabilize bone fragments. These wires can be drilled through the bone to hold the fragments in position. They can be placed percutaneously through the skin or can be buried in the skin. K-wires are available in different sizes, and they become less flexible as they increase in size. These wires are often used to stabilize a broken bone and then removed when the fracture has healed. The wires can be also threaded to help in the prevention of movement or backing out of the wire, although that can also make them more difficult to remove. K-wires are most commonly used when traction was a common treatment for certain types of fractures. When traction is K-wire is mostly inserted into a bone to provide a rigid anchor to the bone, and then the weight is pulled on the bone through the wire to pull the broken extremity into alignment. Complications with Pins There are some complications asso...