Australian Surgeons Remove Four-Centimeter Sewing Needle from Woman's Abdomen

A 50-year-old woman in Australia arrived at a hospital suffering from severe abdominal pain of unknown origin. A CT scan performed by physicians revealed a particularly unusual finding: a sharp metallic object measuring about four centimeters inside her abdominal cavity. The woman could not explain how it got there, only later recalling an incident that might have led to the extraordinary discovery.

The case, documented by physicians at John Hunter Hospital in Australia and published on October 31 in the Journal of Surgical Case Reports, began when the woman turned to the emergency room following abdominal pain that lasted for a day. Initial examinations showed an elevated pulse, but laboratory tests indicated no abnormal findings. The CT scan identified a four-centimeter metallic object in the left side of the abdomen. Despite the surprising discovery, there were no signs of bowel perforation or inflammation around the bone. The woman was hospitalized for overnight observation, and after the pain subsided and a follow-up X-ray showed the object remained in a similar position, she was discharged home with instructions for medical follow-up.

The story did not end there. The following day, the woman returned to the hospital due to renewed pain, this time in the lower left abdominal area. An additional X-ray revealed that the metallic object had moved from its position and progressed downward. At this stage, the woman recalled a detail that might explain the mystery: she had fallen asleep while sewing, and possibly rolled onto a sewing needle during her sleep without feeling it penetrate through the skin into the abdominal cavity. However, this was a potential explanation raised by the woman rather than a definitively proven penetration mechanism.

Due to the recurring pain and the movement of the object, physicians decided to perform surgery to remove it, fearing it might cause damage to internal organs or blood vessels. During the laparoscopic surgery, it became apparent that finding the needle was more complicated than expected. Although the physicians knew it was inside the abdominal cavity, they could not identify it by direct view. Only after performing a series of X-rays during surgery and using a surgical instrument as a reference point did they manage to locate its exact position. The needle was found wrapped in internal fat tissue near the transverse colon and was successfully removed through a small surgical opening. The examination showed no damage to the bowel or other organs.

The woman was discharged from the hospital the day after the surgery. She later returned due to a mild skin infection near the navel, which was treated with antibiotics and resolved without further documented complications. Physicians explained that sharp objects reaching the abdominal cavity can move from their place and cause damage to the bowel, blood vessels, or adjacent tissues. In this case, the fact that the needle was trapped inside the internal fat tissue may have limited its movement and prevented more severe damage.