Bedside ultrasound AIDS identification and removal of cutaneous foreign bodies: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue injury with a retained foreign body (FB) is a common emergency department (ED) complaint. Detection and precise localization of these foreign bodies is often difficult with traditional plain radiographic imaging or computed tomography (CT). CASE REPORT: We present three cases in which bedside ultrasound was used to identify and guide management of retained soft tissue foreign bodies. Comparison of ultrasound vs. plain radiography and CT, as well as techniques for FB identification and removal, are discussed. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Bedside ultrasound is an invaluable tool in the localization of foreign bodies in relation to other anatomic structures, and aids in the decision to remove them in the ED.