EVALUATION OF DEEP-SEATED SOFT TISSUE FOREIGN BODIES ACCORDING TO GENDER AND AGE GROUPS

Aim: We aimed to determine types and locations of deep-seated soft tissue foreign bodies (FB) and to evaluate the differences between gender and age groups.

Materials and Methods: A total of 310 patients operated due to deep-seated FB penetration between January 2011 and January 2018 were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups as under 18 years, 18-45 years, and over 45 years. FB were divided into five groups. Locations of the FB were divided into five region in the upper extremities and into six region in the lower extremities. FB type and location were analyzed according to the gender and age groups.

Results: The most common FB was metal piece in men by 48.4%, and needle in women by 77.3% (P<.0001). Needle was the most common FB by 67.4% in men and 94.2% in women who aged under 18 years (P=.12), whereas the most common FB was metal piece by 54.7% in men and needle by 71.4% in women in the aged 18-45 years age group (P=.0007) and metal piece by 61.3% in men and needle by 70.0% in women in the over 45 years age group (P=.0023). The most common location of FB was hand in men by 35.2% and foot in women by 61% (P<.0001). The most common location of FB was foot by 65.1% in men, and foot by 62.9% in women who aged under 18 years (P=.04), whereas the most common location of FB was hand by 38.9% in men aged 18-45 years and foot by 60.3% in women in the same age group (P=<.0001). The most common location of FB was hand by 65.5% in men and foot by 60% in women who aged over 45 years (P<.0001).

Conclusion: Our study is the first in the literature to evaluate the type and location of the deep-seated FB according to the gender and age groups. The most common location and type of FB were found as foot and needle in women of all age groups and in men under 18 years. This result may be related to the reason that needles, which is used for sewing, are often dropped to the floor due to inattention or neglect of persons, and these persons spend more time at home. Whereas, the most common location and type of FB were hand and metal piece in men over 18 years, respectively. This result may be associated with the labor class doing heavy work which is under risk for hand injury and consists of men over 18 years.