Percutaneous corrective osteotomy for rotational malunion of metacarpal and phalangeal fractures

Risk of tendon failure with repeated passage of Kirschner wires or hypodermic needles: an experimental study

“…This is also the case for hypodermic needles, but the number of passes required is less by a factor of about ten. The number of K-wire passes leading to tendon failure are orders of magnitude greater than the upper limit of the number of passes required to carry out the reported osteotomy procedure (Jenkins et al., 2021). These data are important in confirming the minimal risk of tendon damage with repeated K-wire or needle passes, validating existing techniques, giving further confidence to surgeons performing them and encouraging the development of other percutaneous techniques.…”

“…While these should avoid or minimize injury to the local tendons, the needle may go through the tendon risking injury. In addition, a technique has been described of a percutaneous osteotomy in the hand using a technique of multiple passes of a K-wire to weaken the bone prior to a manual osteotomy (Jenkins et al., 2021). As part of this procedure, the K-wire must pass through the extensor mechanism of the fingers many tens of times.…”