Kirschner wire migration from the clavicle to the cervical spine

Kirschner wires (K-wires) are often used to treat injury to the shoulder girdle. Often found in such as literature are cases of migration of K-wires to the thoracic organs lungs, esophagus, aorta. This is a potentially a very serious complication that could lead to death. A 31-year-old male patient who was surgically treated for acromioclavicular joint separation on the right side. Six years later, the patient was admitted to the orthopedic department due to severe pain around the right acromioclavicular joint and septic inflammation in the surrounding area. The plain X-ray showed that Weber's cerclage was broken and one of the Kirschner wires had migrated towards the central axis of the body, perpendicular to the spine at the level of (the 7th) cervical vertebra (C7). The angio computed tomography test, using multi-helical amplified contrast, showed that the displaced 6.5 cm long K-wire segment had migrated to the spinal cord canal at the C7 vertebra. The wire passed through the two transverse foramen of C7 and adhered to the posterior surface of the trunk vertebra. The study did not show any pathological symptoms of the nervous system resulting from K-wire migration. The patient did not consent to the removal of the displaced K-wire, due to alcoholism. Patients with K-wire osteosynthesis should be under strict control in the outpatient clinic. The K-wires must be bent at the distal end to prevent dislocations and a potentially fatal wire migration. Consider this type of orthopedic fixation in patients not complying with medical recommendations (alcoholism, mental illness, low IQ).