Unique mishap following transfacial pin fixated midface distraction and successful management using nasal endoscopy.

A 2-year-old female child with craniosynostosis was referred to our unit for definitive management. She presented with a turricephalic head, hypoplastic midface and obstructive sleep apnoea. Routine preoperative workup included radiographs, CT and polysomnography. She was provisionally planned for calvarial remodelling and midface advancement using transfacial pin fixated distractor (TPF). This involves insertion of a K-wire from one zygoma to the other, a few millimetres below the orbits, traversing across maxilla and nasal cavity. The ends of K-wire are then connected to the distractor anchored firmly to the temporal bone. During insertion, the K-wire transected the nasogastric tube. This technical disaster was circumvented by endoscopic-guided disengagement prior to recovery. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the probable causes that lead to such untoward instances and strategies to avoid and manage the same. © BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.