title: Unusual sequela from a pencil stab wound reveals a retained graphite foreign body.
abstract: Penetrating pencil-tip injuries are common among children and usually resolve without long-term sequelae. However, failure to detect and remove embedded pencil fragments can result in increased morbidity or misdiagnoses of other, more serious, conditions. We report on the case of a 10-year-old boy stabbed with a pencil on his right chin. Initial treatment in the emergency department included irrigation and closure of the laceration. Following suture removal, the patient returned to the emergency department (with bright-purple drainage from the wound site). Radiographic evaluation led to the discovery of an embedded foreign body requiring surgical removal.
authors.affiliation: From the *University Plastic Surgery, Affiliated With †Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Iris A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: Bradley A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Loren S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Schechter
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002680:Chin / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006108:Graphite; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D006108:Graphite