Nonmetallic foreign bodies of the skull base: a diagnostic challenge

Cases of physical trauma have become more common in emergency departments, since life in modern society has become increasingly dangerous. Foreign bodies in the head and neck region are more common, therefore, and management principles are well-defined. Typically, these foreign bodies are metal, plastic, or glass and often easily diagnosed; however, wooden foreign bodies pose special problems for the physician and, therefore, warrant separate consideration. We present the case of a 21-year-old male who was stabbed in the submental region with a large wooden stake and discuss the surgical and follow-up treatment of this interesting case, including the roles and limitations of angiography, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging.