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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Ingestion Of A Chicken Bone Cause Gastrointestinal Perforation?

Hi! My 21 month old baby accidentally swallowed a small broken chicken wing bone, the size of a normal pinky nail..the left over bone was pointed and we are worried that she swallowed a pointed bone as well...what is the probability of the bone to perforate or damage her stomach or her intestines?
Fri, 20 Oct 2017
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Usually the bone should pass out through the intestines and be evacuated with stools in 24 to 48 hours. If there is any suspicion of stomach or intestinal injury, the child will have abdominal pain, vomiting and fever, features of peritonitis. It in important in such case to admit the child in hospital, and surgical intervention would be required to remove the bone and suture the perforation. Even if this does not occur, it would be wise to keep the child in hospital, take serial abdominal X Rays to see for the position and passage of the bone. Once it passes out with the stools, child can be discharged from hospital.
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Does Ingestion Of A Chicken Bone Cause Gastrointestinal Perforation?

Usually the bone should pass out through the intestines and be evacuated with stools in 24 to 48 hours. If there is any suspicion of stomach or intestinal injury, the child will have abdominal pain, vomiting and fever, features of peritonitis. It in important in such case to admit the child in hospital, and surgical intervention would be required to remove the bone and suture the perforation. Even if this does not occur, it would be wise to keep the child in hospital, take serial abdominal X Rays to see for the position and passage of the bone. Once it passes out with the stools, child can be discharged from hospital.