RESUMO

The use of metal wires, called Kirschner wires, is a simple and effective fixation method for the correction of shoulder fractures and of dislocations in orthopedic surgery. Wire migration during the postoperative follow-up is a possible complication of the procedure. The authors present the case of a 48-year-old male patient, a business administrator, who suffered a fall from his own height during a soccer match resulting in right shoulder trauma. The patient was treated at a specialized orthopedics and trauma hospital and was diagnosed with a grade V acromioclavicular dislocation. Four days after the trauma, the acromioclavicular dislocation was surgically treated using ligatures with anchor wires, coracoacromial ligament transfer, and fixation with Kirshner wires from the acromion to the clavicle. At the follow-up, 12 days after the surgical procedure, migration of the Kirschner wire to the acromion edge was identified. The patient was oriented to undergo another surgery to remove the Kirshner wire, due to the possibility of further migration; nonetheless, he refused the surgery. Nine months after the surgical treatment, the patient complained of pain on the left shoulder (contralateral side), difficulty to mobilize the shoulder, ecchymosis, and protrusion. Bilateral radiographs demonstrated that the Kirschner wire, originally from the right shoulder, was on the left side. The patient then underwent a successful surgery to remove the implant.

RESUMO

Abstract The use of metal wires, called Kirschner wires, is a simple and effective fixation method for the correction of shoulder fractures and of dislocations in orthopedic surgery.Wire migration during the postoperative follow-up is a possible complication of the procedure. The authors present the case of a 48-year-old male patient, a business administrator, who suffered a fall from his own height during a soccer match resulting in right shoulder trauma. The patient was treated at a specialized orthopedics and trauma hospital and was diagnosed with a grade V acromioclavicular dislocation. Four days after the trauma, the acromioclavicular dislocation was surgically treated using ligatures with anchor wires, coracoacromial ligament transfer, and fixation with Kirshner wires from the acromion to the clavicle. At the follow-up, 12 days after the surgical procedure, migration of the Kirschner wire to the acromion edge was identified. The patient was oriented to undergo another surgery to remove the Kirshner wire, due to the possibility of further migration; nonetheless, he refused the surgery. Nine months after the surgical treatment, the patient complained of pain on the left shoulder (contralateral side), difficulty tomobilize the shoulder, ecchymosis, and protrusion. Bilateral radiographs demonstrated that the Kirschner wire, originally from the right shoulder, was on the left side. The patient then underwent a successful surgery to remove the implant.

Resumo O uso dos fios metálicos, denominados fios de Kirschner, é um método de fixação simples e eficaz para a correção de fraturas e luxações do ombro na cirurgia ortopédica. Uma das possíveis complicações é a migração do fio durante o acompanhamento pósoperatório. Os autores apresentam um caso de um paciente masculino de 48 anos, administrador, que sofreu uma queda de mesmo nível com trauma em ombro direito durante uma partida de futebol. Atendido emumhospital de referência de ortopedia e traumatologia, foi diagnosticada luxação acromioclavicular grau V. Quatro dias após o trauma, fez-se o tratamento cirúrgico da luxação acromioclavicular com amarrilhos com fios de âncora, transferência do ligamento coracoacromial e fixação com fio de Kirchner do acrômio à clavícula. No retorno, 12 dias após o procedimento cirúrgico, identificou-se amigração do fio de Kirschner do bordo do acrômio. Apesar de orientado a se submeter a cirurgia para remoção do fio, o paciente se recusou.Novemeses após o tratamento cirúrgico, o paciente apresentou dores no ombro esquerdo (lado contralateral), dificuldade para mobilizar o ombro, equimose e saliência. Foram feitas radiografias bilaterais e foi constatado que o fio de Kirschner, originalmente no ombro direito, estava no ombro contralateral. Fez-se então cirurgia para remoção do implante, com sucesso.

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