Biomaterial Database

Parapharyngeal space foreign body. 2006

Pawel Krzysztof Burduk

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Sklodowska-Curie 9 Str., 85-094, Bydgoszcz, Poland. pburduk@wp.pl

We present a case of an unusual toothbrush foreign body in the parapharyngeal space in a 1.5-year-old child. Children are most affected by this kind of trauma. Quicker and exact diagnosis guarantee proper treatment and recovery. The toothbrush had broken and one-third (about 6 cm) of it was left in the child's mouth, causing some swallowing problems. We do not observe any injury of neurovascular structures or inflammation complications. Under general anesthesia, neck exploration was undertaken and the toothbrush removed. External exploration of the neck is the method of choice in the treatment of big parapharyngeal space foreign body as we demonstrated in our case. This method guarantees a good exposure of the neurovascular structures of the neck.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D010614	Pharynx	A funnel-shaped fibromuscular tube that conducts food to the ESOPHAGUS, and air to the LARYNX and LUNGS. It is located posterior to the NASAL CAVITY; ORAL CAVITY; and LARYNX, and extends from the SKULL BASE to the inferior border of the CRICOID CARTILAGE anteriorly and to the inferior border of the C6 vertebra posteriorly. It is divided into the NASOPHARYNX; OROPHARYNX; and HYPOPHARYNX (laryngopharynx).	Throat,Pharynxs,Throats
D005260	Female		Females
D005547	Foreign Bodies	Inanimate objects that become enclosed in the body.	Foreign Objects,Gossypiboma,Retained Surgical Instruments,Retained Surgical Items,Retained Surgical Needle,Retained Surgical Sponge,Retained Surgical Tools,Textiloma,Bodies, Foreign,Body, Foreign,Foreign Body,Foreign Object,Gossypibomas,Object, Foreign,Objects, Foreign,Retained Surgical Instrument,Retained Surgical Item,Retained Surgical Needles,Retained Surgical Sponges,Retained Surgical Tool,Surgical Instrument, Retained,Surgical Instruments, Retained,Surgical Item, Retained,Surgical Items, Retained,Surgical Needle, Retained,Surgical Needles, Retained,Surgical Sponge, Retained,Surgical Sponges, Retained,Surgical Tool, Retained,Surgical Tools, Retained,Textilomas
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014099	Toothbrushing	The act of cleaning teeth with a brush to remove plaque and prevent tooth decay. (From Webster, 3d ed)	Toothbrushings