We report a case of laparoscopic removal of a retained foreign body, a broken surgical instrument, after posterior lumbar decompression and interbody fusion (PLIF) for infection control of the vertebrae. The surgical instrument was broken during PLIF surgery. However, the orthopedic surgeon could not remove the broken instrument because of bleeding and a poor operative view; the surgeon finished the operation leaving the broken surgical instrument in the vertebral body. Plain films revealed a metallic pin-like material at the anterior side of the lumbar vertebral body. Six days later, through a laparoscopic approach, the broken surgical instrument was removed without complication, and the orthopedic surgeon completed the planned operation successfully.

Keywords: Laparoscopy, Surgical instrument, Foreign body removal