When a patient presents with knee pain and locking after an
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, a new
meniscal injury or an osteochondral loose body are usually
considered for differential diagnosis. We present the case of a 22-year-old female with just these complaints 6 months
after ACL reconstruction surgery. Magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) of the knee showed a broken screw tip which
was later arthroscopically removed. At arthroscopy, an
11mm long broken bioabsorbable interference screw tip was
found lying in the intercondylar notch; this resulted in a
0.5cm Outerbridge grade II chondral ulcer located at midpatella. Both menisci and cruciate ligaments were intact and no other loose bodies were found in the knee joint.