"If the surgeons were to do nothing the patient would have had to wait and come back for another operation.
"The patient was later advised exactly what had happened and was pleased with what had been done."
It happened when the patient was having an operation on a fractured arm. The metal plate had been fitted abroad with a Torx fitting, which meant that when UK surgeons tried to take it off they saw screws they had never come across before.
Foreign doctors fit the plates using star-headed screws to mend bones after a break. In Britain, crosshead screws are used.
Last night, Mr Macmillan called for international and national standardisation in the procedure.
He said: "I wouldn't be surprised if Mr Mobbs takes this up with the British Orthopaedic Association.
"Clearly, it is foolish to have a lot of screws with different heads so there should be uniform standards so that other doctors won't have to send out to their Halfords shop to get the job done."
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