Management of intraoral needle migration into the posterior cervical space

Foreign bodies within the deep spaces of the neck pose infrequent but substantial risks involving migration, including infection, pseudoaneurysm formation, pneumothorax, hemopericardium, and embolization to the central circulation. A rare case of foreign body migration through the parapharyngeal space into the posterior cervical space is described from an intraoral needle shard. A 48-year-old male presented with a right neck tenderness, referred otalgia, and intermittent neck twitching after a needle fragment was lost during an inferior alveolar nerve block. A CT scan six months after the incident revealed migration of the 2.5 cm needle posterolateral to the great vessels into the posterior cervical space. A transcervical approach led to identification and extraction of the foreign body, with resolution of symptoms. Sharp foreign bodies in the head and neck introduce an uncommon but high-impact risk of complications. Migration is often unpredictable in trajectory and time course. Early surgical removal is recommended for persistent symptoms, sustained migration, and localization to sites with critical structures.