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Q&A: Surgical objects left inside patient
Q: A surgeon’s dictated report for a right hip hemiarthroplasty states the following:
Of note, while drilling one of our transosseous suture holes with a 2.0 mm drill bit, the end of the drill bit broke off inside of the trochanter. It seemed to be quite deep into the bone and was not retrievable. As such, it was left in place.
Should we report 998.4 (foreign body accidentally left during a procedure) for this case?
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