title: Migration of a Kirschner pin from the shoulder to the lung, requiring surgery.
abstract: A 62-year-old woman underwent a reduction of a proximal reduced humeral fracture, which was fixed by 3 Kirschner pins. One year later, the orthopedic surgeon failed to remove one of the wires. The patient was lost to follow-up, and 4 years later, she presented with hemoptysis, revealing migration of the pin to the lung. The pin was removed through a thoracotomy. Migration to the lung is often revealed by hemoptysis or pneumothorax. Close follow-up and early removal of the pins are mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Caen, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cameliere
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosat
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heyndrickx
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Le Rochais
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Icard
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012086:Reoperation; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bone wires; foreign-body migration; hemoptysis; lung injury