SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF A FOREIGN BODY OF THE AXILLARY HOLLOW

Introduction: Deep wounds with foreign bodies are frequent in surgical practice. These foreign bodies can remain unnoticed or they appear after a variable duration depending on their location and nature. Observation: We describe the case of a patient victim of an assault with knife on the left shoulder, causing a deep wound with a metal blade incarceration. This foreign body has migrated abroad for 4 weeks to the axilla while sparing the neurovascular bundle. Discussion: The axilla contains an important nervous and vascular package including the axillary artery, the axillary vein and the brachial plexus. A foreign body located in the axilla has to be extracted with the largest surgical cares and exposes the patient to potentially extremely serious injuries. Conclusion: These wounds are a major handicap when they are associated with neglected foreign body and may endanger the functional or vital prognosis of the patient without appropriate support.