Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2025
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
Does K-wire fixation improve outcomes in children with a Seymour fracture?
1East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Stevenage, UK.
Introduction:
The Seymour fracture is a juxta-epiphyseal fracture of the terminal phalanx of the finger. Sources vary on the recommended management, with some advocating treatment without K-wires to avoid metalwork-associated infection, and others suggesting that K-wire fixation is necessary due to the risks of fracture re-displacement.
Methods:
A best evidence topic in paediatric hand surgery was written according to a structured protocol. Searches were performed on December 28, 2021 in Cochrane library and PubMed.
Results:
69 papers were found using the reported search strategy, and eight papers representing the best evidence to answer this question are discussed.
Discussion:
The evidence on this subject is suboptimal as five of these studies were case-series that do not make direct comparisons between the question's intervention and control groups, and the other three were single-centre retrospective cohort studies with no randomisation.
Conclusion:
The best evidence topic concludes that K-wire fixation appears to be associated with a higher rate of physeal disturbance and lower rates of infection, fracture re-displacement, and flexion deformity.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Fractures: Bone Repair
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the...
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...