title: The removal of a dislocated femoral interference screw through a posteromedial portal.
abstract: The intra-articular migration of a femoral interference screw is a rare complication after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the knee. Only a few reports of cases have been published within the last few years and different approaches toward this complication have been described. We report the case of a 23-year-old female patient who was admitted with knee pain after undergoing an ACL reconstruction 4 years previously. After the clinical examination, a knee radiograph in 2 planes revealed a dislocated femoral interference screw lying in the popliteal fossa. During arthroscopy, the interference screw was retrieved through an additional posteromedial portal to avoid an arthrotomy. The causes for intra-articular screw migration are multiple and most cases were reported in the early postoperative period. The arthroscopic removal of a screw is recommended because of the lower morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Medical University Vienna, General Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria. christoph.resinger@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Resinger
authors.forename: Vilmos
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vécsei
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D001863:Bone Screws; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography