Retained Scalpel Blade in the Knee Joint 15 years After Knee Arthroscopy

Abstract

Case:A 48-year-old man presented with persistent right knee pain 15 years after an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Right knee radiography was remarkable for a retained scalpel blade in the knee joint. The retained scalpel blade was completely removed from the affected knee arthroscopically; however, the patient’s knee pain did not improve with 6 weeks of physically therapy.Conclusions:Arthroscopy surgeons should be cognizant of the risk for retained implants and emphasize the importance of a postprocedure surgical equipment count, and the merits of an x-ray if surgical count discrepancies are detected, or the patient has persistent joint pain despite rehabilitation.