Life-threatening injury caused by complete impalement of a toothbrush: Case report.

Toothbrushes are the most common cause of foreign body injury to the oral cavity in children, but complete impalement by a toothbrush is an extremely rare occurrence and has not been reported previously. This report describes a 28-month-old girl who fell from a 1m ledge while brushing her teeth. Her toothbrush penetrated the oral cavity and could not be removed, and so she was rushed to the hospital with the toothbrush in place. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed penetration of the toothbrush from the oral cavity into and through the right posterior neck at the level of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Angiography was performed under general anesthesia, and the toothbrush was removed. In consultation with pediatricians, antibiotic infusion therapy was started, and the patient was extubated on the 5th post-operative day. There were no complications even after eating was resumed, and the patient was discharged on the 13th post-operative day. A toothbrush is an essential item in daily life, but it can cause serious injuries in children in some circumstances.