Use of a magnet to retrieve a broken scalpel blade

The retrieval of metallic foreign bodies, such as screws, drill bits, needl es, and scalpel blades, from the surgical wound during orthopaedic surgery is often a time-consuming procedure. The extra time and dissection may resu lt in increased morbidity. We report a case during a hip arthroplasty in wh ich a broken surgical blade could not be located with surgical dissection e ven with the aid of an image intensifier. The broken blade finally was retr ieved with the introduction of a magnet.