Case Report: Embedded broken needle in a preterm infant following neonatal blood sampling

A "broken needle" is an improvised technique for neonatal blood sampling used to facilitate an already technical procedure. This involves removing the plastic hub from a standard hypodermic needle to enable direct capillary blood collection, therefore carrying significant safety risks if the needle is mishandled or improperly disposed of. We describe a 10-week-old preterm infant who was recently discharged from a long stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), referred to the paediatric surgical unit with a swollen, erythematous swelling over the left flank. On examination, a pointed foreign body was palpated, prompting a plain abdominal radiograph to be performed. This revealed a long, thin, needle-like object in the left flank. Urgent computed tomography (CT) confirmed a pin-like foreign body abutting the splenorenal fossa, with reactive inflammatory changes but without definite organ penetration or significant injury. The patient underwent abdominal wall exploration and surgical removal of a 3 cm needle with an uncomplicated postoperative course and full recovery. This case underscores an underrecognized but serious complication of this blood-sampling technique: an embedded needle with organ-adjacent foreign-body implantation requiring surgical retrieval. Clinicians should therefore adhere strictly to standard blood-taking protocols, use approved neonatal blood-sampling devices where available, and ensure proper staff training and safe disposal practices. Institutions with NICUs should also prioritize the availability of appropriate neonatal sampling equipment to prevent similar preventable incidents and safeguard patient safety.