Clinical Tip: Extraction of a difficult to remove intramedullary antibiotic rod in the ankle

Abstract

The purpose of this clinical tip is to describe a technique which can facilitate extraction of an antibiotic impregnated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spacer from the intramedullary canal of the hindfoot, ankle and distal tibia. This method employs the Revision Moreland instrumentation system which was originally designed for total hip revision surgery.