Successful Management of a Foreign Body Impacted in the Hard Palate: A Case Report From a Rural Setting

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Foreign body ingestion and impaction are common pediatric emergencies.
• Atypical locations, such as the hard palate, present unique diagnostic and management challenges.
• Rural settings may have limited access to specialized pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of a foreign body embedded in the hard palate of a child.
• To highlight successful management strategies in a resource-limited environment.
• To emphasize the importance of clinical skills and prompt intervention in pediatric foreign body cases.

Main Methods:

• A case report of an 18-month-old female child with a doll's eye embedded in the hard palate.
• Management involved clinical assessment and surgical extraction under intravenous anesthesia.
• Procedure was performed using basic surgical facilities in a rural healthcare setting.

Main Results:

• Successful and safe extraction of the foreign body (doll's eye) from the hard palate.
• The child recovered without immediate complications.
• Demonstrated feasibility of managing atypical foreign body impaction with available resources.

Conclusions:

• Foreign body impaction in the hard palate is a significant risk in young children.
• Clinical acumen, resourcefulness, and prompt intervention are crucial for successful outcomes, especially in underserved areas.
• Preventive strategies and enhanced parental education are essential to reduce the incidence of pediatric foreign body ingestion.