Stabbed in the right nose with two long chopsticks while drunk

A seemingly simple accident a year ago turned into a nightmare for Mr. Bui Van C. Two chopsticks “hidden” in his maxillary sinus, putting him on the brink of danger. The unexpected surgery to remove the foreign object revealed unpredictable risks.

Foreign body in right sinus after removal - Photo: Provided by the hospital

That is the case of Mr. Bui Van C., 40 years old, living in Lam Dong . On July 2, doctors at the Ho Chi Minh City Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital said that Mr. C. was admitted to the hospital on June 23. A year earlier, the patient said he slipped and fell while drunk. After the fall, the patient suffered from nasal congestion, a persistent runny nose on the right side, and occasional severe pain in the right side of his face.

The patient bought medicine at the pharmacy but it did not improve. When he went to the doctor, a foreign object was found in the right nasal sinus.

Through medical history and examination, the doctor suspected that the patient had a foreign object in the right nasal cavity. should have CT scan and endoscopy check.

CT scan results showed two foreign objects about 5-6cm long coming from the right nostril. The patient was diagnosed with a forgotten foreign body in the right nasal cavity penetrating the maxillary sinus and the right pterygoid muscle area and underwent the necessary tests for endoscopic surgery to remove the foreign body.

The team led by Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hai, MD, performed endoscopic surgery to remove the foreign object, which was two pieces of chopsticks about 5-6cm long. After removing the foreign object, the patient continued to receive medical treatment to prevent infection.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hai - Deputy Head of the Rhinosinusology Department, CT scan plays a role in helping to diagnose foreign objects, as well as decide on the surgical route. When performing surgery to remove foreign objects, care must be taken to avoid missing foreign objects, as well as possibly damaging nearby structures (nerves, large blood vessels, skull base, etc.).

If left for a long time, foreign objects can cause surrounding inflammation, reduced vision, and life-threatening sepsis.

Nasal symptoms require early medical examination

From the above case, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Vinh - Deputy Director of the Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital - added that if after facial trauma, the patient has one of the following symptoms: facial swelling, blurred vision, double vision, prolonged wound pus discharge, foul-smelling nasal discharge, prolonged nosebleeds... they need to go to the hospital immediately.

Patients should not be subjective with symptoms that last even if there is no pain. Doctor Thanh Vinh also noted that symptoms of runny nose, foul smell on one side suggest that there may be a forgotten foreign object in the nose. When determining that a foreign object has been forgotten for a long time, early treatment is necessary (surgery to remove the foreign object, antibiotic treatment...) to avoid complications.

In this case, the chopsticks approach the base of the skull and if they go deeper by about 0.5cm, they can puncture the base of the skull, causing brain damage and endangering the patient's life.

THUY DUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bi-hai-chiec-dua-dai-dam-vao-mui-phai-trong-mot-lan-uong-say-20250702091903312.htm