Retained fetal bones masquerading as an intrauterine device with missing threads

Abstract

We present the case of a 26-year-old woman with retained fetal bones, discovered eight years after an induced mid-trimester abortion in a West African country. The patient had requested her general practitioner to change the intrauterine device (IUD) which she assumed had been inserted immediately post-abortion. No threads were seen on vaginal examination. A pelvic ultrasound examination showed features that were misinterpreted for an IUD in the cervical canal. At evacuation of the uterine cavity retained fetal bone fragments were recovered.

KEY WORDS:

• Abortion
• Retained fetal bones
• Ultrasound
• Intrauterine device

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to the patient for permission to publish this case report.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and the writing of the paper.