Straw spears toddler's roof of mouth in South Island bike accident
Dunedin doctors are warning parents about the risks of metal straws after a South Island toddler got one impaled through the roof of her mouth after falling from her bike.
The 21-month-old toddler was taken to a nearby rural emergency department after a retractable metal straw was embedded through the roof of her mouth after a fall from a push bike.
She was "intermittently distressed but consolable" three Dunedin-based specialists who treated her noted in the latest issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal .
The three doctors, Dr Jacob Arahill-Whitham, Dr Hitesh Taylor, and Dean Ruske, detailed the ordeal as part of a case study — the child, date and location were not identified in the article.
When the toddler presented at the regional emergency department, an X-ray was taken which showed the metal straw had penetrated through the girl's nasal sinuses and could possibly have been sitting against the base of her skull.
The regional emergency centre and the nearest tertiary hospital decided to take a CT scan, which confirmed the tip of the straw was buried into the sphenoid bone at the base of the cranium.
The toddler was then transferred to the tertiary hospital via helicopter and she arrived 4.5 hours after the initial 111 call was made.
Her parents, and doctors accompanied her in case she needed emergency intubation.
When she arrived, a neurosurgery team was available on standby and she was whisked into the operating theatre straight away.
She was sedated and the metal straw was removed with no resistance, and in one attempt.
The hole in her palate the straw left was able to be closed, and the toddler was discharged the next say with a course of antibiotics.
There were "no further issues", the article said.
The authors, Dr Arahill-Whitham, Dr Taylor, and Dean Ruske said this case highlighted potential dangers of rigid drinking straws for young children.
"Rigid drinking straws will likely become increasingly common with the continued phasing out of single-use plastics."
They advised clinicians and parents should be made aware of the risks.
The authors said injuries in children to the soft and hard palate were likely under-reported and under-estimated due to incidents being unwitnessed or managed without medical intervention.
They said the most common impalement injuries in children was from falling with an object in their mouth.
Commonly reported objects include toothbrushes, toys, cooking utensils, stationary and sticks.
However, penetrating injuries to the hard palate were rare, but they did present risks to the orbit and brain.
They required surgery in only about 10% of cases, they said.
- laine.priestley@odt.co.nz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Gaza: Health System Crumbles Amid Growing Desperation Over Food, Fuel
'Definitely, people get shot,' said Gaza-based medic Dr. Luca Pigozzi, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator. 'They are victim of blast injuries as well and bodily injuries.' The WHO official's comments follow reports of another mass casualty incident on Thursday, this time involving a strike on a market in the central city of Deir al Balah. More than 20 people were killed and approximately 70 others were injured, said the UN aid wing, OCHA, with victims rushed to Al Aqsa Hospital, Nasser Medical Complex and two other health facilities. Hundreds killed seeking food In addition to the latest deadly incident, at least 410 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to fetch aid from controversial non-UN aid hubs supported by Israel and the United States, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday. Providing high-quality medical care is very difficult in the war-torn occupied enclave today, 'particularly because we are speaking about a high volume of patients every time', Dr Pigozzi insisted. Health needs are widespread and dramatic, with almost 50 per cent of medical stocks completely depleted. WHO's first medical shipment into Gaza on Wednesday was its first since 2 March, when Israel imposed a full blockade on the Strip. In total, nine trucks carrying essential medical supplies entered the enclave with 2,000 units of blood and 1,500 units of plasma; all transited through the Kerem Shalom crossing. It is 'only a drop in the ocean' of what is required, Dr Pigozzi said. Aid obstacles remain Speaking to journalists from Jerusalem, WHO's Dr Rik Peeperkorn highlighted renewed difficulties in securing agreement from the Israeli authorities to allow more UN and partner agencies' supply trucks into Gaza. 'That's really unfortunate and should not happen, because you don't want to see those desperate people, and specifically desperate young men, risking their lives to get some food either,' he said, amid reports of a chaotic rush for supplies at non-UN distribution points and of starving Gazans taking goods directly off lorries. Before the Israeli blockade, the UN and its humanitarian partners demonstrated that their aid delivery system reached those most in need, insisted Dr Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory. Today that is not the case because of repeated refusals by Israeli authorities to allow supplies into Gaza. 'Open the routes and make sure that we can get our supplies in,' he said. 'The market needs to be flooded with food and non-food items and water, et cetera, et cetera, and including essential medicines in a most cost-effective manner.' Denied entry Since March, aid teams have encountered a 44 per cent denial rate, meaning that for every 10 staff requesting entry, 'four to five of them are denied per rotation', WHO's Dr Pigozzi said. Echoing that message, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier insisted that people are starving, sick and dying across Gaza every day. 'They have been killed on the way trying to get medical help, they have been killed inside hospitals. Now, additionally, they are being killed on the way to get food items which are scarcely being provided,' he said. 'We have food and medical help minutes away across the border, sitting there and waiting for weeks and months by now. Just open the door.'
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Straw spears toddler's roof of mouth in South Island bike accident
Warning: contains graphic content Dunedin doctors are warning parents about the risks of metal straws after a South Island toddler got one impaled through the roof of her mouth after falling from her bike. The 21-month-old toddler was taken to a nearby rural emergency department after a retractable metal straw was embedded through the roof of her mouth after a fall from a push bike. She was "intermittently distressed but consolable" three Dunedin-based specialists who treated her noted in the latest issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal . The three doctors, Dr Jacob Arahill-Whitham, Dr Hitesh Taylor, and Dean Ruske, detailed the ordeal as part of a case study — the child, date and location were not identified in the article. When the toddler presented at the regional emergency department, an X-ray was taken which showed the metal straw had penetrated through the girl's nasal sinuses and could possibly have been sitting against the base of her skull. The regional emergency centre and the nearest tertiary hospital decided to take a CT scan, which confirmed the tip of the straw was buried into the sphenoid bone at the base of the cranium. The toddler was then transferred to the tertiary hospital via helicopter and she arrived 4.5 hours after the initial 111 call was made. Her parents, and doctors accompanied her in case she needed emergency intubation. When she arrived, a neurosurgery team was available on standby and she was whisked into the operating theatre straight away. She was sedated and the metal straw was removed with no resistance, and in one attempt. The hole in her palate the straw left was able to be closed, and the toddler was discharged the next say with a course of antibiotics. There were "no further issues", the article said. The authors, Dr Arahill-Whitham, Dr Taylor, and Dean Ruske said this case highlighted potential dangers of rigid drinking straws for young children. "Rigid drinking straws will likely become increasingly common with the continued phasing out of single-use plastics." They advised clinicians and parents should be made aware of the risks. The authors said injuries in children to the soft and hard palate were likely under-reported and under-estimated due to incidents being unwitnessed or managed without medical intervention. They said the most common impalement injuries in children was from falling with an object in their mouth. Commonly reported objects include toothbrushes, toys, cooking utensils, stationary and sticks. However, penetrating injuries to the hard palate were rare, but they did present risks to the orbit and brain. They required surgery in only about 10% of cases, they said. -
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Life X DNA™ Expands Access To Genetic Methylation Testing In Canberra
Life X DNA™, an Australia-based provider of advanced DNA analysis, has announced the availability of its genetic methylation testing in Canberra services in Canberra, ACT. The company's at-home test kits are designed to offer individuals insights into their genetic methylation pathways, including analysis of the MTHFR gene and related health markers. Methylation is a fundamental biochemical process that influences DNA repair, detoxification, cardiovascular health, and neurological function. Variations in genes such as MTHFR can impact the efficiency of these processes, potentially affecting an individual's risk for certain health conditions. Through methylation tests, users can assess their genetic predispositions and receive information that may assist in making informed decisions about diet, supplementation, and lifestyle. The Life X DNA™ service utilises a simple cheek swab to collect DNA samples, which are then analysed using next-generation sequencing and AI-powered software. According to the company, the analysis covers over 200 million SNPs and more than 80 million variants. The resulting reports provide detailed information on methylation efficiency, MTHFR gene variants, homocysteine levels, and associated health risks. Recommendations are tailored to the individual's genetic profile. In Canberra, genetic methylation testing is available via mail-order kits, making the process accessible without the need for clinic visits. The reports generated from these tests are intended for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Life X DNA™ is fully Australian owned and operated, with data privacy and security protocols in place. The company states that personal genetic data is not shared with third parties and is stored securely offline. The expansion of genetic methylation testing in Canberra reflects growing interest in personalised health insights based on DNA analysis. Life X DNA™'s services are also available in other major Australian cities and New Zealand.
