S Afr J Surg
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The modern management of abdominal stab wounds remains controversial and subject to continued reappraisal. In the present study we reviewed patients with abdominal stab wounds to examine and validate a policy of selective non-operative management with serial physical abdominal examination in a busy urban trauma centre with a high incidence of penetrating trauma. ⋯ Serial physical examination alone for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with abdominal stab wounds enables a significant reduction in unnecessary laparotomies.
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A 9-year-old boy presented to our department 8 days after attempting to insert a non-piercing magnetic ear stud on either side of his nose. He had been unable to remove them, and both magnetic parts of the ear studs were still present in his nose. Examination of the nose was difficult, as he was unco-operative and his nose was filled with mucus and crusts. ⋯ Examination under general anaesthesia revealed the two magnets embedded into the mucosa across the septum. The magnets were removed under general anaesthesia by clamping and sliding them in opposite directions. The exposed compressed cartilage was gradually covered by granulation tissue and eventually nasal mucosa.