Broken guidewire retrieval from the hip joint: A case report

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Surgical技术
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Hardware failure during orthopaedic procedures, especially closed intramedullary nailing, presents a critical challenge.
• Mechanical failure of guidewires or reamers in hip fracture surgery can lead to intrapelvic migration, risking neurovascular or visceral injury.

Observation:

• A case of a broken guidewire during hip fracture surgery is presented.
• The broken guidewire was successfully removed using a cannulated reamer and discectomy forceps.

Findings:

• The described technique effectively addressed guidewire breakage during a complex orthopaedic procedure.
• Successful retrieval of the fractured hardware prevented further intraoperative complications.

Implications:

• This case highlights a viable method for managing guidewire fractures in intramedullary nailing.
• Recommendations for preventing such catastrophic failures in orthopaedic surgery are provided.