title: Removing a broken guidewire in the hip joint: treatment options and recommendations for preventing an avoidable surgical catastrophe. A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hardware breakage during hip surgery can pose challenging and difficult problems for orthopedic surgeons. Apart from technical difficulties relating to retrieval of the broken hardware, complications such as adjacent joint arthritis and damage to neurovascular structures and major viscera can occur. Complications occurring during the perioperative period must be informed to the patient and proper documentation is essential. The treatment options must be discussed with the patient and relatives and the implant company must be informed about this untoward incident.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of complete removal of the implant and then removal of the broken guidewire using a combination of techniques, including a cannulated drill bit, pituitary forceps and Kerrison rongeur.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest some treatment options and recommendations for preventing an avoidable surgical catastrophe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Pramukswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Abhijeet Ashok
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Salunke
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Prem Haridas
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Microvascular Services, Kovai Medical Center & Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Gurunathampalayam Ilango
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Nambi
authors.affiliation: Yong Lin Loo School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Junhao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Pramukswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Pramukswami Medical College, Karamsad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D001863:Bone Screws; D001864:Bone Wires; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure