RT Journal
A1 Firth, Gregory B.
A1 Roy, Anvesh
A1 Moroz, Paul J.
T1 Foreign Body Migration Along a Tendon Sheath in the Lower ExtremityA Case Report and Literature Review
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2011
FD April 20
VO 93
IS 8
SP e38 1
OP 5
DO 10.2106/JBJS.J.00902
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.J.00902
AB 
Retained foreign bodies unintentionally migrating within the body can result in substantial morbidity1,2 and even mortality; for example, Kirschner-wire migration via blood vessels can cause cardiac damage and death3. More commonly, a penetrating foreign body in the foot, particularly a wooden object, can lead to cellulitis, osteomyelitis, or an apparent "pseudotumor."4-9 However, foreign bodies in the foot do not appear to migrate far, in contrast to those in the upper extremity, which can migrate along some distance10-12. We report a case of a toothpick penetrating a child's foot and migrating a sufficient distance to be undetectable with conventional imaging techniques. While appropriate imaging technology is available, technology alone may fail to locate foreign bodies, as we describe in the following case report. Thus, one must consider the local anatomy to identify potential migration routes of the retained foreign body.