Case Report: Cold welding of barrel plate to Richard screw: an unusual complication witnessed during sliding hip screw removal.

Abstract

Implant removal is one of the most common procedures performed in orthopaedics. More often than not, it is more difficult than the index operation to insert the implant. The Sliding Hip Screw (SHS) is one of the most commonly used devices for the fixation of intertrochanteric fractures. The screw and barrel are designed to allow for smooth gliding. Titanium implants are often associated with the complication of cold welding. Stainless steel implants are less commonly associated with this phenomenon. We report an unusual case of cold welding of the barrel and Richard screw encountered during the removal of a stainless steel sliding hip screw construct in a routine case of peri-implant fracture in an 80 year old female who had sustained household trauma due to a slip.