"Turn the tail, not the head": a simple, quick and inexpensive technique for the safe removal of jammed/stripped locking screws.

Abstract

A jammed screw is a well-known complication of locking plates. Noncompliance to the standard techniques, nonusage of torque limiting screwdrivers and manufacturer-specific instrumentations are the common causes of jammed locking screw heads. Previously, various techniques have been described for the retrieval of jammed locking screws by damaging the screw head, using conical reverse threaded drill bits and often cutting off the plates at jammed screw sites that often generate metal debris and cause bone and soft tissue damage of unknown extent. We present a simple technique and a novel device that does not damage the screw head or the plate, and therefore, no metal debris is generated. The threads on the terminal part of the screw are used to disengage the jammed locking screw head from its locking hole.