Use of a magnet to retrieve a broken scalpel blade.
The retrieval of metallic foreign bodies, such as screws, drill bits, needles, and scalpel blades, from the surgical wound during orthopaedic surgery is often a time-consuming procedure. The extra time and dissection may result in increased morbidity. We report a case during a hip arthroplasty in which a broken surgical blade could not be located with surgical dissection even with the aid of an image intensifier. The broken blade finally was retrieved with the introduction of a magnet.
Prasad
R
R
Joint Replacement Institute, Orthopaedic Hospital, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA.
Amstutz
H C
HC
Sparling
E A
EA
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008280:Magnetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D013525:Surgical Instruments