An Unusual Foreign Body Causing Symptoms After 40 Years: A Case Report

This is a clinical case of a 71-year-old woman who went to an urgent consultation for pain in the distal region of the sole of the right foot; she denied trauma or effort. On physical examination, there was an induration, which was painful on palpation. Ultrasound and X-ray evaluation showed a foreign body (FB) associated with a granuloma in the distal end of the metallic linear image, measuring 6.5 cm, projected at the base of the second metatarsal. When asked about the discovery, she remembered an episode of trauma with a rod from an umbrella, more than 40 years ago, which was supposedly removed by a healer. She was unaware that that piece of the object remained. Sent to traumatology, a partial extraction of the FB was performed. It showed extensive corrosion, causing a metallosis reaction. The patient kept a part of the FB with about 3 cm, with adequate healing, and she recovered completely.