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Recurrent brain abscess due to an unexpected foreign body
W P Vandertop1, W B de Vries, J van Swieten
1Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Utrecht, Holland.
Abstract:
We report an exceptional case of a patient with chronic frontal sinusitis complicated by chronic osteomyelitis and a cutaneous fistula. A recurrent brain abscess developed and was only cured after a very unusual wooden retained foreign body was removed at surgery. The hazards of wood as a foreign body are discussed and it is stressed that the possibility of a retained foreign body, even unsuspected, must always be borne in mind.
Insights
A rare case highlights wood foreign bodies causing chronic sinusitis, osteomyelitis, and recurrent brain abscesses. Surgical removal of an unsuspected wooden object was crucial for patient recovery.
Area of Science:
- Medical Case Report
- Surgical Pathology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Chronic frontal sinusitis can lead to severe complications.
- Osteomyelitis and cutaneous fistulas represent advanced stages of infection.
- Brain abscesses are life-threatening neurological emergencies.
Observation:
- A patient presented with chronic frontal sinusitis, osteomyelitis, and a cutaneous fistula.
- Recurrent brain abscesses developed despite initial treatments.
- An unusual wooden foreign body was discovered and removed during surgery.
Findings:
- The wooden foreign body was identified as the underlying cause of the recurrent infections.
- Surgical excision of the foreign body led to the resolution of the brain abscesses.
- Wood poses unique hazards as a retained foreign body due to its properties.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering retained foreign bodies in complex infections.
- Diagnostic imaging and surgical exploration should be thorough to identify occult foreign materials.
- Awareness of wood's potential as a dangerous foreign body is critical for clinicians.