Clinical and radiological pattern of a penetrating injury of the cheek by an electric toothbrush in a 17-month-old child

In Italy, the available data show that over 3 million people per year suffer accidents in the home and this number is rising. Particular attention should be given to accidents in the pediatric age, in which accidents are by far the first cause of children's death. In the general practice unintentional injury, defined as every disability which occurs under accidental circumstances, is a significant health problem in children. Even an apparently harmless device as an electric toothbrush may be a danger to a 17-month-old infant. This article describes the case of a child who sustained a penetrating injury, while brushing his teeth with an electric toothbrush. The clinical and radiological pattern of this injury derives from the peculiar characteristics of this brushing tool, which added to the penetrating injury the damage of hooking the Bichat's fat pad. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.