K-wire Fixation or Pinning of Paediatric Distal Radius

Description

This video presentation demonstrates a surgical procedure involving the insertion of a k-wire (Kirschner wire) in a 13-year-old boy with a displaced wrist fracture. The narrator explains the importance of proper setup and space management during the operation, highlighting the need for careful examination of symptoms that accompany this type of injury. The presentation emphasizes the process of reducing the fracture through a combination of counter traction and careful manipulation, advising against excessive force to avoid damage to the growth plate. With guided demonstrations, the narrator discusses the techniques for gently correcting the fracture's alignment, ensuring that the proximal and distal fragments make contact again. Following successful reduction, the narrator compares treatment options, pointing out variations in post-operative compliance between healthcare systems in developed and developing countries, ultimately selecting k-wiring for better stabilization in the presented case. The video concludes with an acknowledgment of the complexities involved in k-wiring, despite its appearance as a straightforward procedure.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-221884

Specialties