Hysteroscopic removal of retained intrauterine fetal bone causing chronic pelvic pain

Abstract

It is generally believed that bones retained freely in the endometrial cavity could behave as an intrauterine contraceptive device. We report a case of retained fetal bone causing chronic pelvic pain in a 29-year-old single Para 0 + 1 female. This followed the termination of a 16-week pregnancy through dilatation and curettage 8 years earlier. Pelvic ultrasound suggested the presence of two highly echogenic objects in the uterine cavity and uterine synechia. Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis and removal of the embedded fetal bone fragments (confirmed by histology) with insertion of size 10 Foleys catheter was performed. She was subsequently placed on estrogen (progynova 2 mg twice daily) for 6 weeks. Her menstruation returned 2 months after the hysteroscopy with complete resolution of the pelvic pain.