The Motown Corkscrew: A Simple Method for Extraction of an Embedded Intra-Articular Foreign Body.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Ballistics Medicine

Background:

• Acetabular fractures from gunshot wounds pose complex surgical challenges.
• Intra-articular bullet fragments can lead to joint damage and long-term complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel technique for removing intra-articular bullets.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the "Motown Corkscrew" technique in a case of acetabular fracture.

Main Methods:

• A Ganz surgical dislocation was performed for acetabular fracture access.
• A 2.5 mm drill bit was used as a "Motown Corkscrew" to extract an embedded bullet.
• Trochanteric osteotomy fixation was performed after bullet removal.

Main Results:

• The "Motown Corkscrew" technique successfully extracted the embedded bullet en bloc.
• The patient regained painless full activity within 2 months post-surgery.
• 33-month follow-up imaging confirmed durable fracture union with no signs of osteolysis.

Conclusions:

• The "Motown Corkscrew" technique offers a controlled and cost-neutral method for removing intra-articular bullets.
• This technique effectively preserves articular structures during bullet extraction.
• The described approach facilitates favorable patient outcomes in complex trauma cases.