It is well documented that retained foreign bodies can be associated with delayed abscess formation in the body. We report an unusual case of a large bomb shrapnel in the wrist of a 64-year-old Chinese woman which was retained for 52 years, causing gross wrist destruction and delayed abscess formation. An open drainage of the wrist abscess was done and the shrapnel was removed. A secondary closure was subsequently done but the patient refused another procedure for a formal wrist arthrodesis.