Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41133041›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Intra-articular Migration of a Broken Needle in an Intravenous Drug User: A Case Report and Surgical Management.

Rahul Kaushik, Taruna Singh, Devinder Kumar, Labhanshi Aggarwal, Mohd Altaf Mir

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Rahul KaushikBurns and Plastic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, Bathinda, IND.
Taruna SinghBurns and Plastic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, Bathinda, IND.
Devinder KumarBurns and Plastic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, Bathinda, IND.
Labhanshi AggarwalBurns and Plastic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, Bathinda, IND.
Mohd Altaf MirBurns and Plastic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, Bathinda, IND.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Intravenous drug users (IVDUs) frequently present with complications; however, intra-articular migration of a broken needle is exceedingly rare. This is the case of a 29-year-old male heroin user who experienced needle breakage during self-injection into the popliteal fossa. The initial removal attempts failed, and he presented with knee discomfort 10 days later. Radiographs revealed a metallic foreign body in the popliteal fossa, near the femur. Posterior surgical exploration failed to locate the needle. Intraoperative imaging showed anterior migration. A medial parapatellar arthrotomy was performed, and the needle was retrieved between the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the lateral meniscus. This case highlights the importance of intraoperative imaging and surgical flexibility. Early diagnosis and retrieval are crucial for avoiding joint damage and complications.

Indexed as

broken needleforeign body migrationheroin injectionintra-articular retrievalintravenous drug userknee joint

Identifiers

PMID41133041
PMCPMC12543221

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.