Surgeons Remove Ruptured Implant With Salmonella

A 74-year-old patient required surgery after a decades-old silicone breast implant ruptured during a walk.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Women’s Health

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a sterile medical tray, evoking the clinical nature of an rare surgical implant removal case. — Surgeons in Lubbock successfully removed a 40-year-old ruptured silicone implant that had developed a rare Salmonella infection in a 74-year-old patient. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Medical experts in August 2026 detailed a rare case in which a 74-year-old woman developed a Salmonella infection following the rupture of a silicone breast implant. The woman had received the implants initially in 1985.

Why it matters

This case highlights an exceptionally rare complication associated with long-term breast implants. It represents only the third documented instance of a Salmonella infection occurring within a breast implant.

The patient presented with a temperature of 100.1°F and a white blood cell count of 18.29 thousand per microliter. This medical report marks the third known case of Salmonella infection associated with a breast implant.

The players

Texas Tech Health Sciences

This institution served as the site where the medical team analyzed and documented the rare case of implant infection.

The details

Surgeons drained the abscess formed by the rupture and removed the implant, which had been in place for 40 years. The patient recovered in the hospital for nine days after receiving a combination of intravenous and oral antibiotics.

The patient received her original breast implants in 1985.
The medical case report was published on August 17, 2026.

Health Landscape

The report on this infection serves as an update to the limited literature on rare bacterial colonizations within prosthetic implants. It follows the pattern set by the third reported case of Salmonella infection of a breast implant to expand medical understanding.

This case underscores the importance of monitoring long-term medical implants for changes, such as unexpected popping sensations or physical pain. Patients should discuss the condition of older implants with their healthcare providers to understand potential risks.

The takeaway

Patients with decades-old medical implants should remain vigilant for signs of inflammation or infection, such as fever or localized pain. Consulting with a specialist can help determine if routine imaging is necessary to assess the structural integrity of older devices.