ABSTRACT Breakage of tension band wires used to treat patella fracture, several years after surgery, is not uncommon. Broken wires may migrate to surrounding neurovascular structures, other vital organs like heart and may cause potentially fatal complications. Once the wires have been broken, it may be difficult to remove the broken pieces of metal wires. We report a 50 years old male patient with broken tension band wires at multiple sites. The broken wires were removed 20 years after the initial surgery without any undue complications. However, the patient sustained significant soft tissue injury tn the attempt to remove all the pieces of broken wires that could otherwise have been safely removed within a year after fracture union. 
KEY WORDS: Broken Wires, Cerclage wires, Migration, Patella fracture, Tension Band Wiring