Effects of orthopedic instruments breakage during surgery: A minimum five-year follow-up

Aim: The present study aims to investigate the the long-term effect of metallic orthopedic instruments that were broken and not removed during surgery on the health status of patients. Material and Methods: Radiographs of 12,601 patients (5765 females and 6836 males; mean age: 48.9 years; range: 0-105) who underwent orthopedic surgery in our clinic between January 2009 and January 2015 were screened. Thirty-six patients (13 females and 23 males; mean age: 45.3 years; range: 12-82) with metallic instruments, broken and not removed during surgery, were included in the study and minimum five-year follow-up radiographs of the patients were examined. Results: The rate of orthopedic instrument breakage during surgery was 0.28%. This was 0.64% in trauma cases and 0.08% in elective surgery cases. The broken instrument was a Kirschner wire (K-wire) in 16 (44.4%) cases, a screw in 14 (38.9%), and a drill bit in 6 (16.6%). The rate of instrument breakage was 7.44 times higher in trauma cases than in elective surgery cases, which was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Only 1 patient required reoperation for the broken instrument 7 years later. No surgical notes regarding broken implants were identified in patient files. Discussion: Instruments that are broken and not removed during surgery do not cause any complication if they are entirely within the bone. Nevertheless, any instance of instrument breakage should be documented, and the patient should be informed about the condition and followed closely.