Challenges in Detecting Small Glass Particles: A Case Study of Persistent Forehead Swelling Post-surgery

This case report presents a rare case of multiple retained foreign bodies following a trauma event, which were missed on initial surgical exploration and imaging. A 38-year-old man presented with a tender swelling on his right forehead that had been present for six months following trauma from a shattered glass photo frame which fell on his forehead. Initial imaging and local surgical exploration revealed a 2 cm glass fragment. Despite its removal, the patient continued to experience persistent tender swelling. A postoperative computed tomography (CT) scan identified additional hyperdense areas, which led to a second surgery and the discovery of multiple glass particles. This case highlights the challenges in detecting small glass fragments and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive imaging and clinical evaluation.