[Oropharyngeal toothbrush perforation in an infant].

Introduction: Oral impalement injuries are common in children. We report a case of severe pharyngeal toothbrush perforation in a 15-month-old infant.

Observation: A 15-month-old child was admitted for a penetrating oral injury caused by a toothbrush. There was no hemorrhagic or neurological complication. A CT scan showed the toothbrush in the right parapharyngeal region with its extremity in the mastoid region. Exploration and extraction of the toothbrush was performed under general anesthesia. The outcome was uneventful.

Discussion: Penetrating oral cavity wounds caused by a toothbrush in children may be severe and must be explored in the operating room. A preoperative CT scan must be performed to complete the assessment of lesions. The risk of infection is high and an antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended. Neurological and vascular complications may occur but they are rare.