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3D Computed Tomography-Guided Management of Retained Surgical Drain in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report and
Ashwani Mudgil1, Ravneet Kaur Gill2
1Department of Orthopaedics, Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt, Haryana, India.
Introduction:
Total knee arthroplasty is one of the most common orthopedic surgeries performed worldwide. As a major surgery, it has its own spectrum of complications, one of which is a retained surgical drain requiring prompt management. While traditional imaging modalities have limitations in localizing retained drain segments, 3D computed tomography (CT) offers enhanced visualization capabilities.
Case Report:
We report two cases with retained segments of surgical drains after total knee arthroplasty. In the first case, a 56-year-old female had a retained drain segment that broke after an attempt to remove it. In the second case, a 69-year-old male experienced drain breakage due to impingement between the patella and the femoral component. Both cases were successfully managed using 3D CT for precise localization, enabling minimally invasive retrieval through targeted suture removal rather than extensive wound exploration.
Conclusion:
Three-dimensional CT can play a valuable role in managing these complications. It can help accurately mark the site and measure dimensions from the proximal suture line, ultimately enabling a minimally invasive re-exploration.
