A Forearm Gossypiboma which Mimicked a Deep Seated Abscess: A Case Report from a Tertiary Care Institute in Eastern Part of India

Abstract

Gossypiboma is a foreign body that contain non absorbable cotton matrix, retained in tissue after a surgical procedure. 24-year-old male who came to our outpatients department with soft cystic painful swelling over ulnar side of Left forearm having sero-sanguinous discharge for last 6 months. Open reduction and internal fixation was done for fracture distal end radius, 2 years back followed by plate in situ which was removed 6 month back. Radiograph showed soft tissue swelling with healed fracture and multiple screw foot print present over distal end of radius. MRI showed thick calcified abscess, which appear isointense on T1WI and heterogeneous hyper intense on T2WI in intramuscular and intermuscular plane in posterior compartment of right forearm. Incision and drainage was done through open exploration with extraction of retained gauge piece and removal of dead and necrosed tissue. Postoperative period was uneventful and patient was well during 3 month follow-up.

Keywords

• forearm abscess
• foreign body
• musculoskeletal system