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Pin Care


About this topic


If you have a broken bone, your doctor may not be able to fix it right away. Your doctor may decide to use a metal frame outside the skin to secure the bone until the surgery. The frame is attached to plates and screws above and below the break. This is called external fixation. Part of this tool is the pins that secure the frame to your bone. Sometimes, traction or some kinds of braces also use pins to secure them in place. You will need to learn how to care for your pins. Keeping them clean and free of infection is important as they are a direct path into your bone. ‚  

What care is needed at home?


  • Based on where your pins are, your doctor will tell you how often you need to do pin care.
  • After your pin sites have healed, your doctor may allow you to shower. Then, you can do pin care in the shower. Be sure to rinse all the soap off and dry your pins and other equipment well.
  • You may want to take a drug for pain 30 to 60 minutes before you do pin care.

Wash Your Hands Before You Start ‚  
  • Wash your hands using liquid soap. Lather for 2 minutes and be sure to scrub between fingers and under your fingernails.
  • Rinse with warm water. Keep your fingers pointed down when you rinse.
  • Dry your hands with a paper towel and use the towel to turn off the faucet.

Take Off the Old Dressing ‚  
  • Gather up your supplies, including 2 to 3 cotton swabs for each pin site, gloves, gauze, sterile cup, and cleaning solution. Talk to your doctor about the best cleaning solution for you. Some doctors will want you to use a special soap. Others will want you to use half strength hydrogen peroxide and others may have you use soap and water.
  • Pour the cleaning solution into the sterile cup.
  • Put on gloves you can throw away.
  • Take off the old dressing with care. Wet with warm water if it sticks to your skin.
  • Put dressings in a plastic bag. Do not lay them on any surface.
  • Take off your gloves and put in plastic bag.
  • Set bag to the side to throw away after putting on a new dressing.
  • When you are done, wash your hands again.
  • Each time you do pin care, look closely at the skin around the pins. Check for redness, swelling, drainage, or crusts.

Clean the Pin Site ‚  
  • Put on clean gloves you can throw away.
  • Dip a cotton swab in the cleaning solution. Start at the pin and clean in circles moving outward from the pin. Use a new swab each time you start at the base of the pin. Clean from the base of the pin up the pin as well.
  • Gently, push the skin down around the pin site.
  • Ask your doctor if you should work to get rid of all crusts around the pin.
  • Based on the cleaning solution, you may need to rinse the pin site with sterile water or sterile saline.
  • Gently, dry the area and put on a clean dressing, if your doctor says the pin site should be covered.
  • Throw away all of your used supplies and gloves.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water.

What follow-up care is needed?


Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚  

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Help with pain
  • Fight an infection

What problems could happen?


  • Infection
  • Skin irritation
  • Pins become loose

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
  • Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
  • Very bad pain
  • Pin becomes loose or falls out
  • Black tissue around the pin site
  • Wound gets larger or skin is irritated around the pin site

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my condition.
  • I can tell you how to care for my pins.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound.

Last Reviewed Date


2015-03-18 ‚  

List_set bdysylist


  • Healthy Living
  • Neuromuscular and Skeletal

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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