Chronic Ulceration and Sinus Formation due to Foreign Body: An Often-Forgotten Problem

Foreign bodies like residues of suture or mesh may lead to a foreign body reaction, cavity formation and continuous secretion and perhaps ulceration. We present a more than 9 years long medical record of a 49 year old man after a simple surgical procedure. The background was a sinus formation generated from a foreign body reaction. The case report shows that this condition is often overlooked and even using advanced equipment, it is difficult to diagnose. The only solution is to diagnose and remove the triggering cause. Fistulography and ultrasound scanning seem to be the optimal diagnostic tool in these cases. The knowledge of the foreign body reaction in tissue continuously needs to be reestablished in the health care system especially in areas, where implantation of foreign material is used.