title: Rectovulvar fistula in a child secondary to an unusual foreign body.
abstract: Foreign bodies in the female genital tract are well recognized as a cause of pain, discharge, secretions, and infection. In the small child, the presence of a vaginal discharge is usually associated with either a common object which has been inserted or sexual abuse complicated by a sexually transmitted disease. A 3-year-old child presented with a recurrent labial secretion and drainage due to an unusual foreign body. It was only during a second operation that the possibility of a foreign body was entertained, and diagnostic testing was begun. A third operation permitted removal of the foreign body, a large bone probably of animal origin. The fistula tract was closed after a colostomy was performed. This represents the first reported case of a rectovulvar fistula not of a congenital nature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hatley
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vanderzalm
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D012007:Rectum; D014845:Vulvar Diseases / Q000209:etiology*