Spinal Canal Migration of a K-Wire Used for Fixation of a Distal Clavicular Fracture

Byung-Ill Lee; Yong-Beom Kim; Hyung-Suk Choi; Chang-Hyun Kim; Jung-Woo Ji

doi:10.4055/jkoa.2013.48.3.231

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Lee, Kim, Choi, Kim, and Ji: Spinal Canal Migration of a K-Wire Used for Fixation of a Distal Clavicular Fracture

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association 2013; 48(3): 231-235.

Published online: 24 June 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2013.48.3.231

Spinal Canal Migration of a K-Wire Used for Fixation of a Distal Clavicular Fracture

Byung-Ill Lee, M.D., Yong-Beom Kim, M.D., Hyung-Suk Choi, M.D., Chang-Hyun Kim, M.D., Jung-Woo Ji, M.D.^*

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soon Chun Hyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

^*Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soon Chun Hyang University Gumi Hospital, Gumi, Korea.

Correspondence to: Yong-Beom Kim, M.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-743, Korea. TEL: +82-2-709-9254, FAX: +82-2-794-9414, schkyb@schmc.ac.kr

Received 29 November 2012 Revised 27 December 2012 Accepted 30 January 2013

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

We report on migration of the K-wire, which is used in fixation of a distal clavicular fracture, to the spinal canal. A 39-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with pain in his right shoulder. He had undergone surgery for a right distal clavicular fracture (in another hospital) ten years ago. Plain radiographs showed an old right distal clavicle fracture fixed with three K-wires. One of the three K-wires had broken, and the broken K-wire had migrated to the spinal canal. Fortunately, the patient exhibited no neurological symptoms, however, there was a possibility of fatal complications, such as spinal cord injury. Therefore, we recommend close follow-up for patients who undergo repair of a distal clavicular fracture is fixed using a K-wire, with use of x-ray until the K-wire has been removed.

Keywords: distal clavicular fracture, Kirschner wire, spinal canal, migration

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Antero-posterior radiographs (A, B) and lateral radiograph (C) taken before surgical removal of the K-wire show that the K-wire had migrated into the cervical spinal canal at the C7 level.

Figure 2

Coronal (A) and axial (B, C) cervical computed tomography scans confirming migration of the K-wire into the cervical spinal canal at the C7 level. The K-wire is located anterior to the spinal cord.

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