SURGICAL RETRIEVAL OF A POSTERIOR NECK METALLIC FOREIGN BODY WITH A MINIMAL INCISION: A CASE REPORT

A 21-year-old male, self-employed, was admitted to our hospital. Three days prior to admission, the patient fell onto a steel fence, hitting the right side of his face against the fence. After the accident, the patient regained consciousness but presented with an open wound on the right cheek and pain in the posterior right neck region. He was initially brought to a local emergency facility, where the wound was cleaned, and X-ray examination revealed a metallic foreign body in the posterior neck region. After 3 days of treatment of local hospital, the patient requested to transfer to 108 Military Central Hospital for better treatment. We performed a computed tomographu with 3D reconstruction of the patient’s cervical spine which allowed for precise localization of the foreign body and assessment of its relationship with nearby structures, aiding in surgical planning. Considering the risk of potential complications, including vascular injury and nerve damage, early intervention was crucial. The foreign body removal surgery was performed with the patient under endotracheal anesthesia. The surgical procedure involved a 2 cm incision directly over the foreign body, ensuring its safe removal without damage to major blood vessels.