A simple technique to retrieve broken guide wire transfixing hip joint

While operating on the hip joint, breaking of guide wire became a challenge for treating orthopedic surgeon. Here we report a simple method of removal, which requires limited resources and does not need sophisticated instrumentation. By using this method, we remove broken guide wire in a patient of sub-trochantric fracture of femur managed by close reduction and internal fixation by proximal femoral nail. During the removal of the guide wire, after placing distal screw in the neck the guide wire comes out with some difficulty in the final view on image intensifier - the guide wire broken and transfixes the hip joint but does not enter the pelvis. After removal of the distal screw, its cannulated drill bit was connected to a T-handle and introduced into the track of distal screw up to the broken distal end of guide wire and slow manual reaming done under C-arm image intensifier to prevent damage to the articular cartilage. This process was repeated three times after cleaning drill bit each time to clear the base of guide wire for grasping its distal end. With the help of Kerryson rounger/grasper, the distal end of the guide wire was grasped and easily removed. The distal screw was placed in its original track and the procedure was completed.