C. Noel Henley, MD

Hand and Upper Extremity Specialist

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Removing Pins From A Finger

October 25, 2010 by Dr. Henley 4 Comments

removing pins from a fingerIn this video, you’ll see how I remove pins from a finger.


This patient had a finger fracture and was treated with a technique called closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. It’s a surgery where the broken bone is fixed with two wires inserted through the skin and into the bone to keep the pieces from moving. Sometimes the surgery can be done with just local anesthesia in the operating room.

The ends of each pin are covered with a pin ball to protect the surrounding fingers and to keep the patient from snagging the pin on things.

Many finger injuries can be treated like this, including fractures, dislocations, and some tendon injuries (like mallet finger). The percutaneous pins can usually be removed in the office without anesthesia.

Filed Under: hand surgery, video

Comments

  1. Lisa Hannigan says

    December 10, 2012 at 11:08 AM

    What if you want anesthesia? I got lightheaded just at the thought of the pins being removed while I’m awake. The whole situation was and is still so very painful if the finger barely touches anything that I want to be knocked out for the pin removal. I have 3 pins in my index finger from a comminuted fracture that happened about 2 weeks ago.

  2. C. Noel Henley, MD says

    December 29, 2012 at 7:49 AM

    Lisa:

    Just request it. Most modern sedation can be given so that you literally remember and know nothing, yet still avoid a tube in your throat and breathe on your own.

    But having a soft tube (called an LMA) in your throat will make you sleep deeper but still breathe on your own.

    A lot of this depends on your surgeon, insurance, and anesthesia provider.

  3. Carl Teutsch says

    November 25, 2021 at 9:15 AM

    Is it normal for finger pins to slowly come out on their own? One of my pins is doing this without me pulling on it.

  4. Dr. Henley says

    November 27, 2021 at 11:54 AM

    Carl:

    Yes – it can happen – can be a good or bad thing! Bad if it’s because of infection or the pieces of bone moved; Good if the bone is healed and there’s no more friction keeping the pin lodged in the bone.

    CNH

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