“Kneedle pain”: slipped upper femoral epiphysis in disguise

A 14-year-old boy presented to the outpatient fracture clinic with a foreign body in his left knee. He was complaining of chronic knee pain. An X-ray revealed a foreign body—a sewing needle. On closer examination, he was noted to be obese and pre-pubertal. He had decreased range of motion in his right hip. X-ray of hip revealed a Grade 2 Slipped upper femoral epiphysis. He proceeded to OT for pinning in situ right hip and removal of foreign body in the left knee. Clinical case, and case photos are discussed.     

Removal of a sewing needle from an occult esophageal ingestion in a 9-month-old

A healthy 9-month-old boy presented with a 1-month history of cough. A chest x-ray showed a linear metallic foreign body (FB) lying transversely in the posterior mediastinum. Computed tomographic scan confirmed the location and size of the metallic FB and also revealed a large pericardial effusion that was corroborated by echocardiogram. The patient underwent a right thoracotomy revealing a normal esophagus without mediastinitis and a 12-mm needle in the posterior mediastinum embedded in the pericardium with the sharp end abutting the left atrium. The needle was extracted uneventfully, and his postoperative course was unremarkable. The diagnosis and treatment for this case are discussed along with a review of the literature.     

Thoracoscopic removal of a suture needle from the posterior pericardium after coronary artery bypass grafting

We demonstrate a minimally-invasive thoracoscopic approach [video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)] for removal of a retained pericardial suture needle after standard coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. A 46-year-old male presented with unstable angina. His workup demonstrated significant coronary artery disease for which he underwent a six vessel CABG, including entering the left chest for preparation of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA). At seven weeks, a postoperative chest X-ray demonstrated a foreign body (suture needle) present in the cardiac silhouette. Further computed tomography (CT)-scan imaging confirmed the suture needle to be localized in the left inferior-posterior pericardium. The patient underwent a left VATS exploration for removal of the suture needle. The pericardial suture needle was successfully retrieved thoracoscopically. The chest tube was removed on the first postoperative day and the patient was discharged to home on the second postoperative day. The patient's postoperative course and recovery were uneventful. A minimally-invasive approach can be undertaken for the removal of a foreign body even after prior open chest surgery, avoiding the associated morbidity of a repeat sternotomy.     

Delayed effects of a migrated foreign body (sewing needle) in the cervical spine: a case report

STUDY DESIGN: A case report is presented. OBJECTIVE: This report documents one case of intraspinal migration of a metal foreign body. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The migration and penetration of foreign bodies into the spine have been described, but there are only three reports of a needle as the causative object. METHODS: This case report included a chart review, an examination of the patient, and a literature search. RESULTS: The patient successfully underwent surgery, in which the foreign body (a sewing needle) was removed. CONCLUSION: It is important to be aware of the possible delayed penetration of a foreign body into the spine even in patients with few or no symptoms.     

A case of a foreign body in the urinary bladder--a surgical suture needle was found in urinary bladder]

We report a case of an unusual foreign body in the urinary bladder. A 66-year-old male had undergone an operation of rectal cancer 6 years previously. He visited our hospital with irritative urinary symptoms. Urinalysis showed hematopyuria, and X-ray examination revealed a curved fine shadow (about 2 cm in length and 3 mm in width) at the vesical region. In cystoscopic examination, a calcified surgical suture needle was identified on the trigonal region. The needle was removed transurethrally by a stone crushing forceps. Thus, it was assumed that the needle had been left in the abdominal cavity at the operation 6 years ago and it had migrated into the bladder during these 6 years. Many cases of foreign bodies in the urinary bladder have been reported. However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of a surgical suture needle, in the bladder.     

Laparoscopic removal of a swallowed sewing needle that migrated into the greater omentum without clinical evidence

We report a case of a sewing needle, presumably originating from the transverse colon or the ligament of Treitz, that migrated to the greater omentum. A 24-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with a complaint of abdominal pain which was exacerbated by breathing or any physical activity. Abdominal plain x-ray showed a needle in the left upper abdominal area. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and contrast enhanced x-ray studies was unable to reveal whether the needle was in the colonic lumen. Virtual colonoscopy examination demonstrated that the foreign body was not in the lumen. The foreign body was removed from the patient's greater omentum in a fluoroscopy- guided laparoscopic surgery. An accurate and rapid diagnosis of a perforation in the gastrointestinal tract as the result of an ingested foreign body is difficult in the absence of peritonitis or abscess formation. In such cases, the virtual colonoscopy is useful if there is uncertainty whether the foreign body is in the lumen. Perioperative fluoroscopy can be useful to overcome the lack of tactile discrimination in laparoscopy, in patients who have been scheduled for surgery who have no signs of the localization of the foreign body (such as abscess or solid organ migration).     

超声靶向钩针固定引导下四肢异物取出术的临床研究

目的探讨超声靶向钩针固定引导下四肢异物取出术的临床效果。方法对21例四肢异物患者,超声定位后通过钩针固定引导行异物取出术。结果 21例异物完整取出,伤口愈合良好。手术切口平均长约2.1(1.0~3.0)cm,出血量平均约13.6(5~20)ml,平均手术时间24.8(10~40)min。所有病例未发生血管、神经、肌腱损伤和术后肢体功能障碍等并发症。结论超声介导靶向钩针固定技术能避免手术者及患者接触X线的辐射,操作简便,手术时间短,出血量少,能最大限度地降低手术创伤,术后恢复快,缩短住院时间,减少医疗费用,值得推广应用。     

A penetrating cardiac wound by a flying metallic fragment

A 54-year-old man suddenly felt a strike on his chest while mowing with a machine. At first he had no symptoms except for wound pain, but several hours later, he suffered from high fever with chilliness. The chest roentgenogram showed a foreign body localized within the cardiac shadow. The echocardiogram revealed that the metallic fragment was embedded in the inferior wall of the left ventricle. It appeared that the fragment entered the left ventricular cavity through his anterior chest wall, the right ventricular outflow tract and the ventricular septum. At the operation, the location of the foreign body was again confirmed by the intraoperative echocardiography and the fragment was successfully removed through a left ventricular incision under cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful and the case was reported with a review of the literature.     

Isolated laceration to the deep motor branch of the ulnar nerve by a retained foreign body

This report describes an isolated laceration to the deep motor branch of the ulnar nerve by a retained foreign body. The patient sustained a laceration on the ulnar, volar aspect of his palm after a fall on gravel. He presented to the emergency room with motor deficits but a normal sensory examination. No foreign bodies were identified on initial wound exploration or review of plain radiographs, and the patient's wound was sutured closed without diagnosing the nerve injury or the retained foreign body. Confusion over the patient's intact sensory examination and lack of awareness of the complex distal anatomy of the ulnar nerve contributed to the misdiagnosed nerve lesion. Isolated injuries of the deep motor branch are very rare, but increased awareness and understanding of the complex ulnar nerve distal anatomy will help avoid future delays in diagnosis and treatment.     

Late onset neurogenic claudication in a case of metallic intradural ballistic fragment

Metallic foreign bodies in the intradural location are rare. Even rarer is the absence of neurodeficit in such cases. We report a case where the patient came to the outdoor department of our hospital with symptoms of neurogenic claudication. From history the patient did not volunteer the information which was pertinent to his symptomatology. On examination he was asked about the small scar in his lumbar region. He attributed it to the subjectively insignificant trauma he had sustained when he had been trapped in a crossfire and had been hit by a fragment. The patient had been absolutely symptom free for 12 months after the event followed by 6 months of increasing claudication. X-ray and CT examination revealed the presence of a metallic foreign body in the lumbar spinal canal. Surgical exploration and removal correlated the presence. This case report substantiates the view that a patient with a foreign body in the spinal canal is always a potential candidate for surgery.     

Successful removal of metalic foreign body from brain and internal carotid artery with a platinum-Cobalt magnet alloy

Two successful removals of metalic foreign body with a platinum-Cobalt magnet alloy (Pt-Co magnet) which has a size of 4×4 mm and is capable of lifting 120 g of weight were reported, one a metal fragment from the brain via a inlet track, and the other a needle from the internal carotid artery. A metal piece of motorcycle was accidentally flew in which was demonstrated by X-ray examination of the skull. Pt-Co magnet was inserted into the entrance hole on the right eyebrow under fluoroscopic control. The metal fragment of 20×4×1 mm size was pulled out with minimal damage to the surrounding brain tissues. The other was the accidental breakage of a needle tip during carotid angiography. A needle tip remained in the internal carotid artery at cranial base was successfully removed with a Pt-Co magnet inserted through the previous injection site.     

Laparoscopic removal of an ingested pin migrating into the liver

Most ingested foreign bodies pass through the gastrointestinal tract without giving rise to complications. The possibility of penetration of the intestinal tract, by sharp, pointed objects, however, necessitates careful and continued observation. If such objects become lodged in a narrow segment of the gastrointestinal tract, perforation may occur. The resulting morbidity depends on the further route of the penetrating object and whether septic sequelae ensue. Although foreign bodies may migrate to almost any intraabdominal organ, perforation of the duodenum and migration into the liver are extremely rare. A case of a woman who unknowingly ingested a pin that perforated the duodenum causing only few acute symptoms is presented. Biliary tract pathology was suspected, but ultrasound examination ruled it out. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed a pin thrust into the liver, with the head of the pin in the wall of the duodenum. Traditional surgical treatment requires laparotomy for foreign body removal. In the reported case, the pin was removed laparoscopically. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient left the hospital on day 2 after the procedure. With laparoscopic approach for removal of penetrating intestinal foreign bodies, laparotomy and its attending complications are avoided. This approach is less invasive, has a beneficial impact on postoperative pain, produces a better cosmetic result, and offers a faster return to normal activities. Hospital stay and costs also are reduced.     

金属异物体表投影定位的临床应用

目的:分析采用体表投影定位的异物钳取术在临床应用的效果。方法:体表投影定位采用CT扫描检查。我院2012年收治795例,通过体内金属异物体表投影定位异物钳取术,共取出1 008个金属异物。结果:所有病人行CT检查定位后,异物全部被取出,取出率为100%,无并发症出现。治疗效果满意。体表投影定位异物钳取术具有切口小(0.4±0.1)cm、出血量少(1.1±0.5)mL、手术时间短(4.1±2.0)min、术后疼痛轻等优点。结论:异物体表投影定位是一项精确、有效的术前定位方法。     

An unusual place to find a lost needle in laparoscopic surgery

Losing a needle during laparoscopic surgery is an uncommon but potentially challenging scenario for the surgeon. The prolonged operative time to search for a small retained foreign body such as a needle can cause clinical and medicolegal complications. As a result, it is considered a ‘never event’. This report describes a case of a lost needle during a laparoscopic prostatectomy, when a meticulous and systematic search for the foreign body was initiated and completed with the use of x-rays, only to find it in an unusual place.     

Mixed ductal and acinar cell cancer of the pancreas head; report of a case

A 63 year old Japanese man was admitted in Feb. 1983, with his chief complaint of upper abdominal pain. Physical examination showed only resistance in the right hypochondrium on palpation, but no icteric conjunctiva and skin. A large global tumor of the pancreas head was visualised as a hyperechoic mass with irregularly shaped cystic cavity in ultrasonography, as a hypervascular mass with lucent area in celiac arteriography, and as a mass lesion with low density area in body computerized tomography. Cancer cells were histologically confirmed on specimens taken by fine needle aspiration biopsy under ultrasonic guidance. Cancer of 6.5 X 6.0 X 4.0 cm in size was resected by pancreaticoduodenectomy. Four months after operation, two liver metastatic nodules were resected by right hepatic lobectomy. Histologically, tumor was composed of two characteristic patterns, acinar cell cancer and duct cell cancer, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical techniques. The patient is doing well 3 years and 3 months postoperatively without evidence of recurrent cancer. To our best knowledge, this case is the seventh of mixed ductal and acinar cancer in the world, but the previous 6 cases were reported on autopsy specimens.     

Surgical retrieval of a swallowed denture in a schizophrenic patient: a case report

Background

Accidental foreign body ingestion is a common phenomenon in children between 6 months to 6 years of age. In adults, foreign body ingestion is commonly observed in the geriatric population and in patients with psychiatric disorders. Over 80% of ingested foreign bodies pass uneventfully through the intestinal tract. Endoscopic retrieval is needed in about 20% while surgical intervention is indicated in less than 1%. Herein we report an extremely rare case of esophagocutaneous fistula following operative retrival of an impacted denture in the esophagus with spontaneous healing within 3 weeks. A similar case to the best of our knowledge has so far not been reported previously.

Case presentation

A case of accidental ingestion of a dental prosthesis in a 35-year old schizophrenic patient is presented. The patient was referred to our department after accidentally swallowing one of his dental prosthesis. Surgical retrieval was indicated after two unsuccessful endoscopic retrieval attempts. The denture was retrieved following a longitudinal incision of the esophagus via a left cervical approach. The postoperative course was complicated by a clinically suspected esophagocutaneous fistula which was managed conservatively via nothing per os with enteral feeding via a nasogastric tube. Secretion ceased 3 weeks later and a fistula could not be found on contrast enhanced radiographic examination with gastrographin®.

Conclusion

Esophagocutaneous fistula represents a rare but serious complication following foreign body ingestion. An interdisciplinary management including an early surgical consultation should be considered in patients with foreign body impaction in the esophagus following failure of endoscopic retrieval.

     

Foreign body in the bladder: A case report

Foreign bodies are occasionally reported in the bladder. In most cases, the foreign body is removed via the transurethral approach. A 57-year-old male patient was referred to our hospital to undergo the retrieval of a foreign body from his bladder. However, the foreign body had become severely calcified and could not be removed transurethrally. Thus, an open bladder wall incision was necessary to remove it. We herein report a case of a foreign body in the bladder that had become calcified and which was successfully removed using a higher bladder incision approach. A careful preoperative examination should be performed to detect the characteristics of the foreign body and avoid the risk of bladder wall perforation.     

"Spinolith": case report of a loose body in the spinal canal

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. A hitherto unreported finding of a bony loose body found lying in the spinal canal causing spinal canal stenosis is presented. SUMMARY OF CLINICAL DETAILS: A 68-year-old, fit man presented with a history of progressive neurologic claudication and neurologic deficit in both his lower limbs. Clinical examination revealed excellent range of movements in his lumbar spine and bilaterally normal straight leg raising. He had no significant pain in his back. Neurologic examination showed affection of L5 and S1 dermatomes and myotomes bilaterally. Magnetic resonance imaging scan showed severe localized lumbar spinal stenosis at L4-L5. In the absence of any obvious pathology on the scan, it was presumed that the stenosis was the result of infolding of the redundant ligamentum flavum. His walking distance and neurologic deficit continued to deteriorate, although sphincters were not involved. He underwent a posterior spinal decompression of L4-L5. On performing the laminectomy an ovoid and well-defined pearly white loose body was discovered lying loose in the spinal canal causing stenosis. Histologically, the loose body consisted of trabecular bone with areas of cartilage. The patient made a speedy recovery after surgery and was back to his previous level of activity within a month. DISCUSSION: Several different types of foreign body have been identified in the spinal canal. However, this case of an autologous loose body in the spinal canal causing symptomatic canal stenosis is unique. Because the authors could not identify the source of this loose body, they have termed it "spinolith."     

Cervical esophageal diverticulum associated with an impacted denture: a case report.

The authors describe the case of a 19-year-old man who had swallowed his three-toothed radiolucent upper denture 2 years before the current admission. Although radiologic examination of the soft tissues of the neck and the results of barium meal examination were reported as normal immediately after the event, a barium meal examination 2 years later revealed formation of a cervical esophageal pouch, within which the denture was found at operation. The swallowing and possible impaction of a foreign body within the esophagus should prompt upper gastrointestinal endoscopy despite a negative result of a barium meal examination. Endoscopic removal is the treatment of choice, but surgery is appropriate in selected cases.     

Minute liver metastases from a rectal carcinoid: A case report and review

We here report a 43-year-old male patient with minute liver metastases from a rectal carcinoid. Hepatic nodules were diagnosed during surgery, although they were not diagnosed by preoperative computed tomography or ultrasound examination. The rectal carcinoid was resected together with liver metastases and the patient has had no disease recurrence for 5 years following postoperative treatment of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and oral administration of 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU). In 2003, a health check examination indicated presence of occult blood in his stool. Barium enema study revealed a rectal tumor in the lower rectum and colonoscopy showed a yellowish lesion with a size of 30 mm in diameter. Pathological examination of the biopsy specimen indicated that the rectal tumor was carcinoid. Although preoperative imaging examinations failed to detect liver metastases, 2 min nodules were found on the surface of liver during surgery. A rapid pathological examination revealed that they were metastatic tumors from the rectal carcinoid. Low anterior resection was performed for the rectal tumor and the pathological report indicated that there were 4 metastatic lymph nodes in the rectal mesentery. The patient received treatment by HAIC using 5-FU plus oral administration of HCFU and survived for 5 years.We also review world-wide current treatments and their efficacy for hepatic metastases of carcinoid tumors.