title: Retained broken knife blades within the disc space.
abstract: METHODS
  Four cases in which, during standard laminectomies, knife blades broke deep into the disc space are reported.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  These broken knife blades could not be removed at the time of initial operations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follow-up studies indicated further anterior migration of retained fragments in two cases after ambulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the potential hazards of late intraabdominal visceral or vascular injuries, removal of sharp retained fragments at another session is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amirjamshidi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehrazin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abbassioun
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ketabtchi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc; D007796:Laminectomy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013525:Surgical Instruments