[Migration of the wire after osteosynthesis].

In a 20 year old woman, sudden death due to hemopericardium ensued on osteosynthesis with Kirschner wire of a dislocated sternoclavicular joint. The wire moved to the aorta ascendens and to the right auricle thus causing lethal bleeding into the pericardium. The pathogenesis of the wandering wire is discussed and compared with observations in the literature describing causes, history and clinical phenomena. Wandering after osteosynthesis due to dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint is particularly dangerous, whereas in the case of broken clavicle, dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint, fracture of the humereus or in the region of the hips, no serious complications occur as a rule. Present-day text-books on surgery do not make sufficiently detailed reference to the wandering wire syndrome.