Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1997 Feb;40(2):300-303.

A Case of Nasal Septal Perforation Due to Alkaline Disc Battery as a Nasal Foreign Body

• Rha KS
• Choi WJ
• Ko PJ
• Park CI

Abstract

Due to the common use of alkaline disc batteries(e.g. watches, electronic toys and games, calculators, cameras) physicians and the general public should be more aware of this battery foreign body and the peculiarities in their management. Alkaline disc batteries as foreign bodies in the nasal cavities are extremely rare but dangerous because they can cause liquefaction necrosis with subsequent severe local tissue destruction. Batteries found in the nasal cavities should be removed immediately to prevent sequelae such as septal perforations or nasal stenosis. We recently experienced a case of 4-year-old boy who revealed necrotic perforation of nasal septum which was exposed directly to a alkaline disc battery for 20 hours and the special aspects of these foreign body is discussed.

Keyword

Septal perforation; Foreign body; Alkaline disc battery

MeSH Terms

Child, Preschool
Constriction, Pathologic
Foreign Bodies*
Humans
Male
Nasal Cavity
Nasal Septal Perforation*
Nasal Septum
Necrosis
Play and Playthings