• Taylor J Ridley, Will Freking, Lauren O Erickson, and Christina Marie Ward.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN.
• J Hand Surg Am. 2017 Jul 1; 42 (7): 525-531.

PurposeTo determine whether there is a difference in the incidence of infection between exposed and buried K-wires when used to treat phalangeal, metacarpal, and distal radius fractures.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review identifying all patients aged greater than 16 years who underwent fixation of phalangeal, metacarpal, or distal radius fractures with K-wires between 2007 and 2015. We recorded patient demographic data, fracture location, number of K-wires used, whether K-wires were buried or left exposed, and duration of K-wire placement.ResultsA total of 695 patients met inclusion criteria. Surgeons buried K-wires in 207 patients and left K-wires exposed in 488. Infections occurred more frequently in exposed K-wire cases than in buried K-wire ones. Subgroup analysis based on fracture location revealed a significantly increased risk of being treated for infection when exposed K-wires were used for metacarpal fractures.ConclusionsPatients with exposed K-wires for fixation of phalangeal, metacarpal, or distal radius fractures were more likely to be treated for a pin-site infection than those with K-wires buried beneath the skin. Metacarpal fractures treated with exposed K-wires were 2 times more likely to be treated for a pin-site infection (17.6% of exposed K wire cases vs 8.7% of buried K wire cases).Type Of Study/Level Of EvidenceTherapeutic IV.Copyright © 2017 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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