Hormone-releasing contraceptive implants: our experience of complex removals using preoperative ultrasound.

A known complication of hormone-releasing contraceptive implants is a nonpalpable device at time of intended removal. We report a preprocedure outpatient assessment that includes an ultrasound scan and surface marking. This technique, with avoidance of local infiltration anesthesia, facilitates implant removal and negates the need for concomitant imaging on the day of surgery. The cases we present were referred to our upper limb clinic after previous failed attempts at removal.