Comparison of Pin Site Infection Rate between Schanz Screws and K-Wires in Ilizarov Fixator for Tibial Fracture

Objective: Comparison of pin site infection rate between schanz screws and k-wires in ilizarov fixator for tibial fracture Methodology: It was a randomized control trial, conducted at department of Orthopedics, Khyber Teaching Hospital, MTI, and Peshawar from July 2021 to June 2022. Sampling Technique was Non-probability consecutive sampling. Patients were divided into two groups using computer generated random sequence number. Patients in group A were stabilized using K-wires and patients in group B were stabilized using k-wire and schanz screws. Data were entered in specially designed proforma. Result: Mean age in group A patients was 35±2.77 years, while in group B it was 38±3.12 years. Gender distribution between two groups was analyzed. In Group A 72.3% were males and 27.7 % females while in Group B patients, 70% were males and 30% were females. Mean duration from injury to surgery was 5 days with SD±2.12 in group A, while 5.5±2.37 days in Group B. Analysis of PSI among both groups shows that Group B, in whom Schanz pins technique was used, had significantly high rates of pin site infection (24.1%) compared to group A (9.6%) in whom K-wires technique was used (p 0.012). Conclusion: Our study concludes that the frequency of pin site infection is significantly less in Ilizarov fixator using K-wires (9.6%) as compared to Ilizarov fixator using Schanz pins(24.1%).