Chinese doctors remove chopstick from toddler’s brain
Unattended child escapes permanent injury while playing after dinner
An 11-month-old baby in southwest China has undergone surgery to remove a chopstick that became inserted in his brain through his right eye socket, according to state media.
The boy’s father, Lin Qiang, said he was resting in bed while his wife was counting money when the accident happened, Xinhua reported.
The boy was playing next to the dining table after dinner when “suddenly we heard him crying,” Lin said.
“We saw him lying on the ground and the table had also toppled over,” said Lin. “When we picked him up, we found the chopstick in his eye socket. Blood was flowing from his mouth.”
The boy was rushed to a nearby hospital and underwent a four-hour emergency operation.
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The doctors said that between 10cm and 15cm of the chopstick had entered the boy’s brain. Fortunately, it did not damage the eye or major blood vessels, so it was unlikely to have a severe impact on his sight or nervous system.
The father said the family had moved to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, about six months and sold vegetables at a local market.
Doctors said they had treated many such accidents involving pens, chopsticks and thermometers and implored parents to keep sharp objects out of the reach of young children .
