Cannulated screw breaking in arthroscopic surgery of osteochondritis dissecans of the knee: a case report.

A 14-year-old boy with the diagnosis of osteochondritis dissecans was treated with screw fixation after a 4-year period of unsuccessful conservative care. When an attempt was made to remove the screw 12 weeks after its insertion, the screw broke at its neck releasing several small slivers of metal into the joint. The screw head was removed, but the metallic slivers were not found. The appearance of the screw at the time of partial removal suggests some type of metallurgical failure. Although the shaft of the screw remained in the bone, the lesion healed uneventfully, and the patient resumed his interest in sports.