CASE REPORT

Saw-toothed fish bone ingestion: A method for propulsion

Emily Broadis^I; Wakisa Mulwafu^II

^IM.B. CH.B., M.R.C.S. (GLASG..); Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chichiri, Private Bag 414, Blantyre 3, Malawi
^IIF.C.O.R.L. (S.A.); Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chichiri, Private Bag 414, Blantyre 3, Malawi

ABSTRACT

We describe the case of an 11-year-old girl who presented with a lump in her neck. On exploration a 4 cm saw-toothed fish bone was extracted from the soft tissue of the anterior triangle of the neck.
Ingested fish bones are a common presentation in accident and emergency departments, but there are only a small number of reports of migration through the pharynx into soft tissues. Rare complications can include oesophageal perforation, haematoma formation, retropharyngeal abscesses and recurrent infections. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of migration of an ingested fish bone in Malawi.

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