FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT: CLINICAL PROFILES FROM A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL

Dr. Josephine Adetinuola Eniola Eziyi*, Chukwuemeka Dubem Uchendu, Oluwapelumi Ojuolape Olusoga Peters, Mike Ikoko1 and Sanyaolu Alani Ameye

ABSTRACT

This study aims to describe the age, gender, types and site of foreign body lodgement, including modalities of foreign body (FB) presentation and management in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery of a Tertiary Hospital in South Western Nigeria over a five year period (January 2010 to December 2014) using data from Hospital records. 180 patients had ear, nose or throat FBs constituting 57.8% [104 patients (114FBs)], 14.4% (26 patients) and 27.8% (50 patients) respectively. Males were 88 (48.9%) and females were 92 (51.1%) and children below 10years constituted 64.4% (116 patients) of all cases. Majority of the FBs (183, 96.3%) were inanimate. About a third of patients presented within 24hours (34.4%), another third within a week (33.9%) while the last third presented at varied timing spanning over and above a year. Previous attempts at removal by unskilled personnel was seen in 24% (25cases) of aural FBs and 38.5% (10 cases) of Nasal FBs respectively while no attempt at removal was made for throat FBs. Thirteen (12.5%) and 4 (15.4%) of patients with aural and nasal FB respectively presented with complications following varied attempts at removal. Sixty-five FBs (34.2%) of the foreign bodies were removed without anaesthesia while 4.2% (8 FBs) and 61.6% (117 FBs) were removed under local and general anaesthesia respectively. Ear foreign bodies are the commonest of the ENT foreign bodies in our practice. Many of our patients still present first to unskilled personnel with its attendant complications. There is a need for public enlightenments on preventing foreign body insertion into the ENT region in children and adults.

Keywords: Foreign bodies, Ear, Nose, Throat, Nigeria.