抄録
Although fragments of glass are frequently embedded in human tissues as foreign bodies, most of these are found during primary treatment. A 35-year-old man presented to our hospital with complaints of locking in the right knee 13 months after a glass-related injury. Clinical evaluation revealed swelling and significant effusion without signs of infectious arthritis such as local warmth and redness. Joint puncture produced 60 ml synovial fluid mixed with blood. The presence of three foreign bodies in the knee joint was detected by both plain radiography and computed tomography. Arthroscopy identified these fragments as glass pieces trapped in the medial joint space, and demonstrated a meniscal tear and a widespread defect in the articular cartilage. After removing all three fragments, subchondral drilling was performed in the area with the cartilage defect. The symptoms subsequently improved. A second arthroscopy performed 3 months following the initial operation revealed that the area with cartilage defect was covered with fibrous cartilage. Considering the articular cartilage defect and meniscal tear occurring at a young age, there is a possibility of progression to osteoarthritis in the near future. The presence of foreign bodies in human tissue is a serious clinical problem. Most fragments embedded in an injured patient’s limb are easily visible on standard roentgenograms. A careful radiographic search is necessary in the management of patients who may have been exposed to foreign bodies.
