Mr. T.H.C., a 43-year-old resident of Thuy Van, Viet Tri, Phu Tho Province received the shocking news during a health check at Phu Tho General Hospital. An X-ray indicated a potential foreign object deep in his right neck, prompting an ENT specialist to order a CT scan. The scan confirmed the presence of a soft tissue foreign object in the neck.

Mr. T.H.C. reported no symptoms and had not sought medical attention for his neck. He had previously worked as a mechanic in Ho Chi Minh City before 2009, and doctors speculated that the nail might have entered his neck during work, unbeknownst to him.

On June 24, surgeons successfully removed the rusty nail, which was surrounded by fibrous tissue and measured about 2.5 cm. The patient’s condition was stable post-surgery, and he was expected to be discharged within a few days.

Dr. Nguyen The Dat, Deputy Head of the Department of Otolaryngology - Ophthalmology - Maxillofacial Surgery, emphasized the potential danger of even small foreign objects, which can cause severe injuries or be life-threatening.

In this case, the nail was located between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the shoulder-hyoid muscle, avoiding major blood vessels and thus not posing an immediate threat.

Dr. Dat stressed the importance of using protective gear to prevent workplace injuries and recommended regular health check-ups to detect any hidden health issues early.

Phuong Thuy