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Case Reports
. 2014 Jul-Sep;4(3):22-4.
doi: 10.13107/jocr.2250-0685.188.

Gossypiboma in Thigh- A Case Report

Ram Krishan Arora  1 , Karandeep Singh Johal  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Gossypiboma in Thigh- A Case Report

Ram Krishan Arora et al. J Orthop Case Rep. 2014 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Introduction: The word Gossypiboma has been used for a retained surgical sponge/swab and is derived from gossypium(latin:cotton) and boma(Swahili-place of concealment). Other synonyms for this entity are textiloma, retained textile foreign body(RTFB)"/muslinoma. It is rare in muskulo-skeletal surgery.

Case report: An eighteen year old boy was operated upon for failed plating of right femur. He had a globular swelling in mid thigh. There were no discharging sinuses, no signs/symptoms of infection. While operating on him to remove the failed implant and fix the fracture, while following standard procedures, we found a full size sponge embedded in the fracture site.

Conclusion: In all cases presenting with an incidental mass with/without sinus, Gossypiboma be kept in the differential diagnosis. Awareness of the condition is a must to diagnose such a rare condition. While operating one should make sure that no sponge is left inside-which can have serious medicolegal consequences.

Keywords: gossypiboma; osteoarticular surgery femur; retained sponges; textiloma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Nil

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pre-operative x-ray of Gossypiboma in thigh. Fig shows failed implant. Some calcification is seen in soft tissues but it was thought to be a part of healing process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Shows the sponge being extricated from between the bone fragments-A peroperative photograph.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Photo of sponge recovered from the case.
Figure 4
Figure 4
X-ray Photograph showing one month after surgery on first follow up visit.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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