title: Removal of broken syndesmotic screws: a technical tip.
abstract: A simple method of extracting broken distal tibial-fibular syndesmotic or cross-locking screws for intramedullary nails is illustrated. After extraction of the head portion of the broken screw, a blunt impactor is introduced through the vacant screw hole and abutted to the remaining portion of the screw tip. The screw can usually be impacted through the far cortex. A small incision should be made over the protruding portion, and the screw extracted with pliers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle 98104.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Henley
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D001863:Bone Screws; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods