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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.

International Journal of Surgery Case Reports
|June 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

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.
Abstract

Keywords:
ArthroplastyArthroscopyComplicationsForgottenLongtimeRetained drain

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