Numerical Analysis on K-wire Placement and Bone Fixation

Fractures of the hand and/or forearm account for 1.5% of all emergency department visits, with children aged 5 to 14 years accounting for 26% of these fractures. Percutaneously inserted wires treatment (K-wires) is a major treatment of hand bone fracture. K-wires are inexpensive, easily available, and easy to remove. The main disadvantage of using K-wires is that they do not provide rigid fixation which is critical for fractured bone healing. Therefore, the research objective of the current study is to investigate the relationship between K-wire placement and bone fixation. The effect of three factors of K-wire placement on the bone fixation have been studied. The three factors are the angle between K-wires, the distance between K-wires, and the distance between the cross point of K-wires and the fracture surface. 3D modeling and finite element analysis have been applied in the analysis to study how the deformation of the fracture bones under tensile and torsional loading change with the values of the three factors. The results would enable doctors to optimize patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary invasiveness.