Removal of Incarcerated Screws with Damaged Heads using a Novel Technique of Creating Two Straight and Parallel Planes on the Screw Head with a High Speed Diamond-Tipped Burr and Stable Grip of a Locking Plier

Abstract

Incarcerated screws pose a challenging task to many junior orthopaedic surgeons who hone their skills through experience. One must first have sufficient knowledge regarding orthopaedic implants and the methods of their removal, and should have at their disposal a variety of techniques should one come across difficulty intra- operatively. We recently encountered a case of removal of femoral nail which was complicated with incarcerated screws. The screws were eventually removed using a technique of creating two straight and parallel planes on the screw head with a high speed diamond-tipped burr and stable grip of a locking plier.