Disclosed is a surgical guide wire or K-wire (Kirschner wire) with deformable end parts to allow the wire to be retained while in place. The guide wire includes a shank with a distal end portion, the distal end portion comprising a plurality of deformable ends, and a proximal end portion, the distal end portion having a first configuration while inside a constraining through bore of a surgical tool and a second configuration when outside the through bore. When in the second configuration, at least one of the ends is deflected outwardly from the other deformable end and a longitudinal axis of the guide wire, thereby presenting a larger projected transverse area than the first configuration. The distal end portion is constructed to provide for substantial recoverable deformation from the second configuration back to the first configuration upon axial movement of the guide wire through the through bore of the surgical device. The distal end portion has a deformable portion that is either resiliently or plastically deformable and is made of a memory metal alloy that includes Nitinol.
