Arthroscopic treatment of knee joint injury for intraarticular mercury from a broken thermometer.
BACKGROUND
Intraarticular injection of metallic mercury (Hg) such as those found in thermometers is very rare. According to available data in literature, an arthroscopic presentation and treatment of knee injury that had intraarticular elementary mercury seems not to have been published yet.


METHODS
We report a first case of arthroscopically treated chronic right knee synovitis after accidental intraarticular mercury infusion by a broken thermometer in an 11-year-old boy.


RESULTS
Mercury levels in blood and urine were slightly increased, but no systemic mercury intoxication developed. Inflamed synovia as well as synovia with incorporated metal particles was excised. A histological analysis of macroscopically inflamed synovia revealed an unspecific inflammation reaction. The symptoms gradually subsided and the knee regained full function. However, all the metal particles were not successfully removed from the injured knee; therefore a careful follow-up of the patient was provided.


CONCLUSIONS
It seems that arthroscopic excision and lavage could be suitable treatments for knee injury, infused with elementary mercury, and toxic knee synovitis.
Zupanc
Oskar
O
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska c. 9, Ljubljana, Slovenia. oscarzup@yahoo.com
Zupanc
Tomaz
T
Brvar
Miran
M
Bunc
Matjaz
M
D001182:Arthroscopy; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications; D013585:Synovitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D013821:Thermometers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*
D008628:Mercury