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Multidetector CT for thorn (wooden) foreign bodies of the knee

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Thorn (wooden) foreign bodies of the knee present a challenge in their diagnosis. Partly because of inaccurate history and sometimes a long duration of symptoms, radiographs are negative and MRI may show synovitis without a specific pathology.

Methods

We report a case of a 16-year-old male patient with a date palm thorn foreign body, which caused septic arthritis. He underwent two open surgeries. Both failed to detect the loose body. An MRI of the knee showed a high signal in the posterolateral compartment; however, the pathology could not be confirmed except by 64 Multidetector CT (MDCT) that clearly identified the thorn and its location.

Results

Arthroscopic removal and synovectomy were done by a 4-portal technique. The patient went on to complete recovery.

Conclusion

Multidetector CT has proven very useful in identifying wooden foreign bodies, their size and location.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arthroscopy Unit, Orthopedic Department, Assiut University Hospital, PO Box 110, Assiut, 71111, Egypt

    Hatem G. Said & Mohammad A. Masoud

  2. Radiology Department, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt

    Hazem A. Yousef & Hesham M. Imam

Authors
  1. Hatem G. Said
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  2. Mohammad A. Masoud
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  3. Hazem A. Yousef
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  4. Hesham M. Imam
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad A. Masoud.

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Said, H.G., Masoud, M.A., Yousef, H.A. et al. Multidetector CT for thorn (wooden) foreign bodies of the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 19, 823–825 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1283-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1283-1

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