A fetal scalp electrode as a simple aid in the search for a lost needle fragment during sacrospinous ligament fixation.

A needle fragment was lost during a sacrospinous ligament fixation. This was recognized during the procedure, but could not be found at that moment. The patient complained of severe buttock pain postoperatively. The needle fragment was localized on CT scan of the pelvis. A fetal scalp electrode helped as a search device to localize the needle on X-ray during the secondary surgery. The patient was operated successfully and was free of pain after 6 weeks.