Initial experience with a prototype staple detector

Stainless steel staples can be overgrown by granulation tissue or skin grafts and become buried in tissue. Although they are generally asymptomatic, they can on rare occasion erode to the surface or complicate the radiographic evaluation of pain not related to the staples. A device to facilitate detection of retained staples would be desirable, but it has been difficult to develop because stainless steel staples have poor magnetic and conductive properties. A prototype device, based on the presence of metal disturbing a low-power electromagnetic field, was developed. With human studies committee approval, this miniaturized detector was used in 13 burn patients to detect staples during planned removal of large numbers of staples. Staples were first removed using visual inspection and palpation of the wounds. This was followed by use of the staple detector. The age of the patients was 10.8 +/- 3.3 years, and burn size was 54.6 +/- 8.8% of the body surface. In 8 (62%) of the patients one or more additional staples were detected by the device that would otherwise have been overlooked. In 4 (31%) of the patients there was a false-positive signal, possibly related to topical silver in the wounds, that required additional focused physical examination. A portable staple detector has been developed. Initial experience with the device is favorable and warrants an expanded trial, which is in the planning stages.