Foreign body retained in the sole of the foot for over 30 years: a case report

A 41-year-old man presented with discomfort in the medial arch of his foot, which worsened with weight-bearing. The condition had initially been misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis, and he had received conservative treatment without imaging, with no relief of symptoms. Plain radiography and computed tomography later revealed a 2.5-cm radiopaque, needle-like foreign body in the superficial midfoot. Further history-taking revealed that the patient had stepped on a sewing needle during childhood, approximately 35 years earlier. The foreign body was surgically removed through an extended incision, as it was encased in granulomatous tissue and was not easily accessible via a minimally invasive approach. Histopathological examination confirmed a fibrous reaction with granuloma formation surrounding the retained metallic object. The patient remained asymptomatic postoperatively and returned to normal activity. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first reported case of a sewing needle retained in the foot for over 30 years without an allergic reaction or infection. Although many foreign bodies are detected shortly after injury, this case highlights the importance of thorough history-taking and appropriate imaging, especially when symptoms mimic common conditions such as plantar fasciitis. Additionally, in long-standing cases, complete encapsulation by reactive tissue may necessitate more extensive surgical exposure for successful removal.