Management experience of severe wooden foreign bodies injuries in head and neck region

To describe our experience with the surgical treatment of severe wooden foreign body (WFB) injuries in the head and neck region.

A case series review of WFB injuries in the head and neck region that were managed at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital between 2008 and 2014 was performed retrospectively. The clinical findings and surgical details of ten cases were reviewed.

The WFBs were integrally removed from all patients with the average age of 40.9 years. 8 cases dued to falling and 2 cases because of industrial injuries. All cases under-went general anesthesia (6 cases tracheal incision, 3 cases through nose intubation, 1 cases through oral intubation). The lengths of the WFBs ranged from 4.0 cm to 17.5 cm (average 9.96 cm). The procedures lasted 30 to 180 min. No se-vere bleeding was observed. Total blood loss ranged from approximately 3 to 200 mL (average 69 mL). The patients were followed for 11 to 38 months, and no postoperative complications, only 1 cases appeared open type deviation and 2 cases of scar discomfort after neck operation.

Surgical treatment of severe WFB injuries in the head and neck region is acceptably safe and effective. Endoscopic surgery can be used in patients with WFBs that are embedded in the maxilla.