An Entrapped Vacuum Drainage Tube Between the Surfaces of a Dual-Mobility Cup Following Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

This paper aims to present the unique, to the best of our knowledge, case of entrapment of a standard vacuum drainage tube in the articulating surfaces of the cup of dual-mobility total hip arthroplasty. A 75-year-old woman with end-stage idiopathic avascular necrosis of the left femoral head was referred to the arthroplasty service of our tertiary orthopedic department. She underwent a scheduled and uneventful total hip arthroplasty with a press-fit dual-mobility prosthesis through a standard posterior approach. On the second postoperative day, the attempt to remove the standard vacuum drainage was unsuccessful. Consequently, the patient underwent urgent re-operation. The drain tube was found entrapped between the articulating surfaces of the posterior-inferior aspect of the dual-mobility cup and was uneventfully removed. The patient was discharged with no further events three days after her second operation. Our unique rare case increases awareness when performing even routine everyday surgical procedures because a rare complication may occur irrespective of the level of vigilance of the surgeon and can potentially compromise the outcomes of an otherwise well-performed operation.

Keywords: dual-mobility total hip arthroplasty; early postoperative complication; total hip arthroplasty; total hip arthroplasty complication; vacuum drainage tube entrapment.