A migratory shark bone

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Jun 23:2018:bcr2017220066. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-220066.

Abstract

Fish bone ingestion is a common presentation in ENT. If not managed correctly, it can cause serious complications for the patient and dilemmas for the clinician. A 49-year-old Sri Lankan woman presented to the emergency department following shark bone ingestion with a 'pricking' sensation in her throat. After initial investigation, the bone migrated through to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. After surgical removal of the shark bone she went on to develop a large neck collection, which required surgical drainage. The careful attention to the patient's history and use of imaging facilitated treatment in this case of fish bone ingestion and management of the sequelae.

Keywords: accidents, injuries; ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology; head and neck surgery; otolaryngology / ent; radiology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone and Bones
  • Drainage / methods
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Female
  • Foreign-Body Migration / diagnostic imaging
  • Foreign-Body Migration / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck / diagnostic imaging
  • Neck Muscles / injuries
  • Neck Muscles / surgery*
  • Pharynx / diagnostic imaging
  • Pharynx / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy
  • Seafood
  • Sharks
  • Sri Lanka