Cervical Spondylodiscitis Following Button Battery Ingestion

A previously well 14-month-old boy presented with abnormal neck posturing, poor feeding, drooling, cough, and fever. A neck radiograph showed a 2 cm round metallic density (). Esophagoscopy found a corroded button battery in the proximal esophagus with surrounding tissue necrosis that was removed (; available at www.jpeds.com). One week later, the patient represented with neck hyperextension and inspiratory stridor. Esophagoscopy showed polypoid granulation on the posterior esophageal wall, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine showed an inflammatory phlegmon with adjacent spondylodiscitis (). He was treated with intravenous ticarcillin/clavulanate, and serial MRI scans showed gradual improvement.
Source: The Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Insights and Images Source Type: research