Children and magnet-backed jewellery

Letters

CJEM 2005;7(4):227

To the Editor: My thanks to your Journal and Drs. Brown, Tomasi and Salcedo, the authors of "An attractive approach to magnets adherent across the nasal septum."¹ This past Christmas Eve, during my first year as an attending, I was providing solo coverage in the pediatric emergency department at one of our community hospitals. An 11-year-old girl presented with -- yes -- two small jewellery magnets magnetized across her nasal septum. She was mildly uncomfortable and extremely anxious.

For me, this was classic pediatric emergency lore -- I'd heard about it, had never seen it, and was not quite sure how to manage it. I asked for a magnet, and was given the large 4-in × 6-in block from the adult code cart; I felt this was likely to be difficult to get into the patient's nose. A literature search revealed the article in your Journal. As suggested, I inserted the metal handle of a bayonet forceps into the nostril to effectively utilize the magnetic properties of the jewellery; as a variation on the method described, I simultaneously placed the metal handle of a separate pair of forceps into the other nostril. Each magnet adhered readily to the instrument in each nostril, and they were readily withdrawn, with instant relief of both pain and anxiety -- the patient's and mine.

Marisa Brett-Fleegler, MD
Attending
Division of Emergency Medicine
Children's Hospital Boston
Boston, Mass.

Reference

1. Brown L, Tomaso A, Salcedo G. An attractive approach to magnets adherent across the nasal septum. Can J Emerg Med 2003;5(5):356-8.