Transaortic migration of a Steinman wire from the shoulder

Orthopedic pins and wires are regularly used for the treatment of bone fractures and dislocations. Migration of these devices from the shoulder into the thoracic cavity is an uncommon but well-known complication. However, great vessels' injuries by a migrated wire are extremely rare. We report the case of a 78-year-old woman with a penetrating injury of the ascending thoracic aorta and the superior vena cava caused by migration of a Steinman wire that was used for percutaneous fixation of a left-shoulder dislocation 5 years earlier. There was no hemothorax, hemomediastinum, or hemopericardia, but hemoptysis was present. Such a case has not been previously described. The patient was treated by an emergency median sternotomy with a favorable outcome.