title: Removal of broken distal interlocking screws.
abstract: Existing techniques for removing broken distal interlocking screws can involve trephine over-cutting of the screws, which requires bone exposure and creates larger stress risers by enlarging the original screw hole. We present a technique for removal of these screws that takes advantage of both the design of interlocking screws and the bone quality in the area of their placement. In this technique, a guide-wire "punch" is used to drive the screws through the medial cortex and soft tissue for removal through a small medial incision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: VanderWilde
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lewallen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Papagelopoulos
mesh_terms: D001863:Bone Screws; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*