Broken Beath Pin Tip During Arthroscopic PCL Reconstruction: A Rare Complication

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Surgical Complications

Background:

• Instrument breakage is a rare but significant complication in arthroscopic surgery.
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction can involve specific challenges during tunnel preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of Beath pin breakage during PCL tunnel preparation.
• To describe the management and successful retrieval of a broken instrument fragment.

Main Methods:

• A 38-year-old male with a complex knee injury underwent arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), PCL, and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) reconstruction.
• A Beath pin fractured during PCL tibial tunnel preparation, with the fragment located extracapsularly.
• Surgical retrieval was performed via a separate posterior incision under fluoroscopic guidance.

Main Results:

• The broken Beath pin fragment was successfully removed in a second procedure.
• The patient experienced an uneventful recovery with full knee range of motion at 6 weeks.
• Improved ankle dorsiflexion was noted post-operatively.

Conclusions:

• Beath pin breakage is an uncommon complication during PCL reconstruction.
• Intraoperative vigilance, careful trajectory planning, and effective retrieval strategies are crucial for managing such incidents.