Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Removal of Soft-Tissue Foreign Bodies in Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Medical Imaging
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Foreign body (FB) removal in pediatric extremities can be challenging.
• Ultrasound (US) guidance offers real-time visualization for percutaneous procedures.
• Assessing the efficacy and safety of US-guided FB removal is crucial.

Observation:

• Eleven pediatric patients underwent US-guided percutaneous FB removal in upper and lower extremities.
• Inclusion criteria: elongated FBs without neural or vascular damage.
• Exclusion criteria: open wounds, glass FBs, irregular or superficial palpable FBs.

Findings:

• Ultrasound-guided percutaneous removal demonstrated effectiveness in the studied pediatric population.
• The procedure was associated with minimal complications when specific criteria were met.
• Successful removal of elongated foreign bodies was achieved using this minimally invasive approach.

Implications:

• US-guided percutaneous removal is a viable and effective technique for specific types of pediatric extremity foreign bodies.
• This method may reduce operative time and improve patient outcomes compared to traditional open surgery.
• Further research can explore broader applications and refine patient selection for US-guided FB removal.