Silent fractured denture ingestion resulting in sigmoid colon perforation: A case report.

Accidental foreign body ingestion is a recognized clinical emergency, particularly among elderly individuals, and may lead to serious gastrointestinal complications. Denture ingestion is often silent and may occur due to poor prosthesis fit or fracture. We report a case of a 78-year-old hypertensive woman who presented with a 1-week history of colicky abdominal pain, abdominal distension, constipation, and hematochezia. On examination, she showed signs of generalized peritonitis. Further history revealed that she had unknowingly swallowed a fragment of her broken removable denture several days earlier. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated sigmoid colon perforation with a retained foreign body. Emergency exploratory laparotomy confirmed a metallic denture fragment perforating the sigmoid colon. The affected bowel segment was resected, the foreign body removed, and a Hartmann procedure performed. Denture ingestion accounts for a small proportion of gastrointestinal foreign bodies but carries a higher risk of perforation due to sharp components. Early recognition, prompt imaging, and timely surgical intervention are essential for favorable outcomes.