Percutaneous Pinning

Percutaneous Pinning is a way of fixing fractures in bones and joints in which small thin wires are drilled through the bone. These wires are often left sticking out of the skin, so that they can be removed in clinic without going back to the operating room. Many fractures of the elbow that can’t be treated with a cast, are treated with these percutaneous pins or wires.

Figure - Percutaneous pins were used to fix this elbow fracture. Notice that the ends of the wires are sitting outside of the skin.