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Forgotten denture in a hemiplegic patient.
Hyo-Sang Kim1, Chang-Hwan Kim, Myeong-Ok Kim
1From the Neurorehabilitation Section, Department of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon City, South Korea.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
|October 22, 2013
Summary
An elderly stroke patient experienced dysphagia and speech issues due to a misplaced denture. Prompt removal of the foreign body led to significant symptom improvement, highlighting the need for thorough examination in stroke patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Radiology
Background:
- A 74-year-old male presented with left hemiplegia following a right middle cerebral artery infarction.
- The patient also exhibited dysphagia and speech difficulties, alongside neck pain.
- Pre-existing diagnosis of a large epiglottic cyst contributed to hoarseness and throat discomfort.
Observation:
- A videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) was initiated to investigate the dysphagia.
- During the VFSS, a foreign body was identified in the hypopharynx.
- The foreign body was surprisingly confirmed to be a denture.
Findings:
- Complete removal of the hypopharyngeal denture was performed.
- Following denture extraction, the patient demonstrated marked improvement in swallowing function.
- Speech difficulties experienced by the patient were also significantly alleviated.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical importance of comprehensive history taking and physical examination in elderly stroke patients with communication or swallowing impairments.
- The potential for overlooked foreign bodies, such as dentures, should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration among clinical departments is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management of complex patient presentations.
