Aspirated Tooth in a Child Following Traditional (Non-Clinical) Extraction: A Rare Complication with Delayed Referral in the Right Bronchus — A Case Report

Abdishakur Mohamed Abdi,1,* Abdikafi Abdullahi Mohamed,1,* Abdirahman Ahmed Mohamud,2,3,* Abdisalam Ismail Hassan4,* 1Pediatric Surgery department, Mogadishu Somali-Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia; 2Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Mogadishu University, Mogadishu, Somalia; 3General Surgery Department, Mogadishu Somali-Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia; 4Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jamhuriya University of Science and Technology, Mogadishu, Somalia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Abdisalam Ismail Hassan, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jamhuriya University of Science and Technology, Mogadishu, Somalia, Tel +252617882880, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: To report a rare case of aspirated tooth following a traditional, non-clinical extraction in a child, emphasizing the risks of delayed referral and management challenges in fragile health systems.Materials and Methods: This is a case report of a 9-year-old girl managed at Mogadishu Somali-Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital (MSTH) after referral from a peripheral hospital. Diagnostic evaluation included chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT), followed by therapeutic rigid bronchoscopy.Results – Case Report: The child aspirated a tooth during a traditional hand-based extraction at home. She presented with persistent cough and respiratory distress, with delayed referral from Kismayo to Mogadishu. CT imaging revealed a radiopaque foreign body lodged in the right main bronchus. Rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia successfully retrieved the tooth. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged in good condition on day two.Conclusion: Tooth aspiration is a rare but serious complication of traditional dental practices. This case underscores the importance of early recognition, appropriate imaging, and rigid bronchoscopy for definitive management. Strengthening public awareness, referral pathways, and dental care regulation is crucial to prevent similar complications in resource-limited settings.Keywords: tooth aspiration, foreign body aspiration, rigid bronchoscopy, traditional non-clinical tooth extraction, delayed referral