title: Frequency of instrument breakage during orthopaedic procedures and its effects on patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While breakage of an orthopaedic instrument is a relatively rare occurrence, orthopaedic surgeons need to be familiar with this complication and how to deal with it. Relatively little information about this subject has been published.
  
  
  METHODS
  Every case of instrument breakage during orthopaedic procedures performed in two hospitals during a two-year period was documented prospectively. All patients were followed for a postoperative period ranging from twelve to thirty-six months, during which radiographs in two planes were made to assess changes in, or migration of, the broken object.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the observation period, 11,856 surgical procedures were performed in the two hospitals. The overall rate of instrument breakage was 0.35%. The broken piece was removed in five cases, and the broken instrument was left in situ in thirty-seven cases. During the follow-up period, none of the patients had any symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In most cases, breakage of an orthopaedic instrument is not a problem. Any instance of instrument breakage should be fully documented in the surgical report.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 7a, A-8036 Graz, Austria. wolfgang.pichler@klinikum-graz.at
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazzurana
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grechenig
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mauschitz
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grechenig
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D001842:Bone and Bones; D020878:Device Removal; D004868:Equipment Failure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007558:Italy; D009983:Orthopedic Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome