Transthoracic migration of a Kirschner wire from the humerus to the abdomen.
Migration of Kirschner wires after fracture fixation is a rare complication. Several cases of intrathoracic migration after humeral or clavicle fixation with this technique have been reported though. We describe an even rarer case where a wire migrated from the proximal humerus to the abdomen perforating the left thoracic cavity and hemidiaphragm. The distal end of the wire was located next to the spleen and its proximal end at the fifth intercostal space. This particular case could be managed with a simple direct removal through an incision at the fifth intercostal space. The postoperative course was uneventful.
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta., Girona, Catalonia, Spain. djuliabergkvist@yahoo.es
David
D
Julià
Xavier
X
Baldó
Núria
N
Gómez
Edwin
E
Mármol
D000005:Abdomen; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001864:Bone Wires / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed