A very unusual iatrogenic tracheal foreign body

Abstract

We present the occurrence of the free distal aspect of a screw which belongs to cervical vertebra implant penetrated the trachea and resulted in tracheal obstruction. This occurrence has not been previously reported in the English literature. This event occurred, four years ago following a cervical vertebra implant surgery for herniated nucleus pulposus. The patient has been suffering from dyspnea after the surgery. Patient had been diagnosed as chronic asthma bronchiale and given asthma medications by different doctors since the operation. The patient presented to our hospital with the same complaints. Her pulmonary function test revealed upper airway obstruction, thereupon we ordered a neck tomography. The tomography showed a foreign body in the trachea of the patient. The implant and the screw were safely removed. The patient's complaints are recovered after removal. Her pulmonary function test was improved. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.