Journal Article

Removal of a suture needle: a case report

Ohe, Joo-Young, Lee, Jung-Woo, Kwon, Yong-Dae, Jung, Junho, Hwang, Bo-Yeon, Kim, Min-Ah, Seon, Suyun, Lee, Baek-Soo, Choi, Byung-Joon

2021

Overview

Background Foreign bodies may be embedded or left behind in the oral cavity during oral surgical procedure. The loss of instruments such as impression material, surgical gauze, and broken injection needles are commonly reported in the dental field. These complications are generally symptomatic and show signs of inflammation, pain, and purulent discharge. Accidental breakage of suture needles is a rare but potentially dangerous event. Case presentation In this report, we present one case of lost suture needle during the procedure of flap operation at local dental clinic and its successful removal under local/general anesthesia administration via CBCT with a help of two reference needles to localize the 6-0 nylon needle and consulting with the clinician. Conclusion CT scanning taken while mouth-closing may not be accurate with regard to real location measurement performed while mouth-opening. If so, other up-to-date radiographic devices and methods to retrieve a needle are recommended.

• Publisher: Springer Singapore,Springer Nature B.V,SpringerOpen,대한악안면성형재건외과학회
• Subject: Airway management / Case Report / Case reports / Dentistry / Foreign bodies / Foreign body removal / Fractures / General anesthesia / Iatrogenic foreign body / Local anesthesia / Localization / Maxillofacial surgery / Medicine / Needle fracture / Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery / Oral cavity / Pain / Plastic Surgery / Reconstructive surgery / Skin & tissue grafts / Surgical outcomes / Suture needle / 치의학