Vaginal Burn Injury Due to Alkaline Batteries

BackgroundAlkaline batteries are known to cause caustic burns to the esophagus when ingested. We report a case of alkaline burns to the vagina.CaseA 13-year-old female presented to the Emergency Department with abdominal pain. She was admitted for necrotic vaginal burns after batteries were removed from her vagina. Examination under anesthesia revealed multiple third degree burns without perforation into adjoining structures. Management included topical estrogen, topical antibiotic, and an oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. She was re-examined under anesthesia at 5 days, then weekly as an outpatient. Follow-up examinations at 5 and 36 months later confirmed complete healing.ConclusionIn this unique case, we discuss the treatment options and postulate reasons for the excellent outcome in this patient.