In 1909 the Surgeon-Inventor, Martin Kirschner, invented the first minimally invasive procedure to treat complex fractures with "K-wires" and splints to restore use to broken and what would otherwise result in dysfunctional limbs and joints.

K-wires are still used today by orthopedic surgeons as they work their remarkable art to heal and reconstruct intricate bone fractures. Each reconstruction is a unique innovation in and of itself, as every complex fracture presents its own unique challenges.

(Image courtesy of Michael L. Richardson, M.D., © 2000, University of Washington).

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