Citation

Kapadia Y, Whitlock M. Inj. Extra 2005; 36(4): 77-78.

Affiliation

Emergency Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Stadium Road, Woolwich, London SE18 4QH, UK

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2004.08.024

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A young boy, nearly 3 years of age, was bought to the Emergency Department with a coat hanger embedded in his hard palate. His airway was not compromised. A metal-tipped coat hanger was found passing up through the anterior left side of the hard palate and protruding through his left nostril. Coat hangers are a common household item, to which young children may have access. A random selection of coat hangers that are available shows that there are many designs; some have sharp metal tips with considerable potential for injury. No safety standards have been published in UK or USA. Inquisitive toddlers who have a habit for placing objects in their mouths may be particularly at risk.

Language: en