Migrated k wire into popliteal fossa from tension band wiring of patella: a case report

Rajeev Kansay; Anubhav Malhotra; Deepinder Singh; Sandeep Gupta; Ashwani Soni; Gaurav Chander

Volume : VIII, Issue : I, January - 2019

Migrated k wire into popliteal fossa from tension band wiring of patella: a case report

Rajeev Kansay, Anubhav Malhotra, Deepinder Singh, Sandeep Gupta, Ashwani Soni, Gaurav Chander

Abstract :

Despite being extensively used, k wires have their own set of complications, with loosening and eakage of these wires being the most significant one of them. We report a case of patella fracture treated with tension band wiring (TBW). After achieving fracture union, patient was lost to follow up. He reported four years later with a oken k–wire which had migrated posteriorly into the popliteal fossa and had to be removed as it was causing symptoms to the patient. We recommend following certain steps to prevent the occurrence of such a complication: following AO principles of fracture fixation, encouraging hardware removal after union of fracture wherever possible, close clinical and radiological follow up to detect the movement, eakage and migration of wires at the earliest and removal of migrated wires on priority basis, irrespective of patient being symptomatic or asymptomatic.