An unusual cause of osteochondral defect lesion following an open patellar fracture: a case report with 20-year follow-up

Satisfactory outcomes following an open patellar fracture are quite common. The priorities of management are thorough debridement and rigid fixation by wiring technique or other procedures. In this paper, the authors reported a piece of jean cotton retained in the left knee joint following an open patellar fracture case. Marked chronic synovitis and an osteochondral defect of the lateral femoral condyle were illustrated. The reaction subsided following the removal of the foreign body. With 20-years follow-up, the defect healed with radiologic evidence of knee osteoarthritis. The case demonstrates the need for surgeons to be aware of unrecognized retained foreign body, particularly any torn part of the clothes worn at the time of injury.