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A forgotten retained drain inside a knee for 10 years: A case report
Saeed Koaban1, Raheef Alatassi1, Nawaf Alogayyel2
1Security Forces Hospital, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, P.O. Box: 3643, Riyadh, 11481, Saudi Arabia.
A forgotten surgical drain was discovered in a knee 10 years after arthroscopic surgery. This rare complication highlights the importance of vigilance to prevent retained surgical drains and ensure patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Post-arthroscopic knee surgery often involves surgical drains to manage fluid collection.
- The necessity and safety of postoperative surgical drains remain a subject of debate in the medical community.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of a forgotten retained surgical drain within the knee joint.
- To emphasize the potential risks associated with retained drains after arthroscopic procedures.
- To underscore the importance of surgeon awareness regarding iatrogenic complications.
Main Methods:
- Presentation of a unique case study involving a retained surgical drain.
- Review of relevant medical literature concerning retained surgical drains.
Main Results:
- A surgical drain was retained within a patient's knee for approximately 10 years following an arthroscopic procedure.
- The retained drain was successfully removed without immediate complications.
- Literature suggests retained drains outside the joint typically do not impact long-term outcomes, but intra-articular fragments may cause issues.
Conclusions:
- Retained surgical drains are rare but preventable complications that can cause patient and surgeon distress.
- Surgeons should maintain a high index of suspicion for iatrogenic causes of persistent post-operative pain.
- Implementing preventive measures is crucial to avoid the occurrence of retained surgical drains.
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