Vertebral body infection due to esophageal perforation caused by ingestion of fishbone: a case report

Abstract

BackgroundEsophageal injury is a common complication of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract, but bilateral pleural effusion or vertebral infection is a rare condition due to a swallowed fishbone. It is considerably difficult for a physician to diagnose quickly because of incomplete patient history of foreign bodies ingestion and/or insufficient experiences.Patient concernsWe describe the case of a 56-year-old man who was admitted to an emergency medical department owing to a low to moderate fever for 7 days. After a series of examinations, the patient was diagnosed with esophageal perforation (EP) caused by a fishbone that was swallowed half a month ago.DiagnosesAbout 12 days after the onset of fever, he was diagnosed with EP based on the gastric endoscopic images combined with histological section and sufficient history of the disease. About 2 months later, the patient has obvious back pain and lack of strength in two legs and was diagnosed with vertebral body infection.InterventionsAntibiotic therapy, multi-disciplinary team (MDT), and surgical intervention had been exerted.OutcomesIt is very fortunate for this patient to have a good prognosis due to a timely diagnosis and proper management. Muscle power has attained level 5.LessonsSeveral lessons can be learned from this case; for example, physicians should be alerted to the EP, endoscopic intervention should be prompt, antibiotics should be used regularly, and so on.

Quadriparesis Following Intrinsic Traumatic Esophageal Perforation: Report of a Rare Case

“…Most of the cases reported in literature involving the lower cervical spine are almost always associated with pneumomediastinum and less commonly abscess collection. 4 However, a few case reports of esophageal perforation leading to vertebral body infection 5 and epidural abscess 6 do occur in literature, but these are mostly postradiation esophageal perforations.…”