Abstract
This report presents a case of penetrating maxillary injury caused by a piece of metal that was removed using X-ray fluoroscopy. A 23-year-old man was referred to our hospital presenting with oronasal bleeding and a white lip laceration caused by accidental injury from a nail gun. Clinical examination revealed a penetrating wound in the left white lip and a foreign body （a nail head） on the mucosa of the anterior maxillary sulcus. Computed tomography images showed that a radiopacity similar to the nail, approximately 70mm long, was embedded in the maxillary bone from the anterior maxillary alveolus to the medial plate of the pterygoid process through the hard palate. Although the nail was removed while the patient was under general anesthesia, a foreign body （a connecting wire） remained in the maxillary bone, which we successfully removed using X-ray fluoroscopy. No postoperative complications occurred, and the patient was discharged seven days after the nail was removed. X-ray fluoroscopy is considered to be very useful for removing foreign bodies embedded in the maxillofacial area not only in soft tissue but also in bone.
