Open AccessSevere cartilage damage from a broken absorbable screw head after fixation of an avulsion fracture of the tibial attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament
Author(s) -
Qiangqiang Li,
Kai Song,
Yu Sun,
Haojun Zhang,
Dongyang Chen,
Qing Jiang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.59
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1536-5964
pISSN - 0025-7974
DOI - 10.1097/md.0000000000005180
Subject(s) - medicine , avulsion fracture , avulsion , posterior cruciate ligament , surgery , fixation (population genetics) , anterior cruciate ligament , population , environmental health
The use of bioabsorbable interference screws has become popular for treatment of avulsion fractures of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). Complications are uncommon. We report a case of severe chondral damage caused by the early breakage of an absorbable screw head after fixation of an avulsion fracture of the tibial attachment of the PCL. The patient felt a sudden locking of the knee when getting off a car at 4 months after the PCL surgery. MRI revealed intraarticular migration of the head of the interference screw. During revision surgery, the broken part was removed without incident, and severe cartilage damage was observed. The patient experienced a complete resolution of symptoms at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: MRI examination is recommended in case of sudden locking of the knee for patients undergoing PCL fixation with bioabsorbable interference screws. Surgical treatment should be performed immediately when screw breakage was confirmed.