UNRECOGNIZED FOREIGN-BODY IN THE HIP-JOINT

A 40-year-old woman involved in a motor vehicle accident sustained a l eft acetabular fracture and a dislocated left hip with a large ipsilat eral traumatic hip wound. Multiple plain radiographic films of the pel vis and a pelvic computed tomographic scan were obtained. None of thes e images showed a 25 x 20 x 12-mm piece of the gearshift that was foun d in the hip joint at the time of the surgery. Hence, we present this case highlighting an unusual phenomenon in which a large foreign body was not recognized on preoperative radiographic studies.