What are some effective tips for dealing with a bone fragment stuck in the throat?

Apr 27, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lu Cheng
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, the throat refers to the pharynx. When a bone fragment becomes lodged in the throat, you can try the following methods to resolve the issue: stop eating and drinking, attempt coughing, try using tweezers to remove the fragment, seek professional medical assistance, and take anti-inflammatory medications. Maintaining good eating habits and paying attention to food safety during meals can help prevent the occurrence of bone fragments lodging in the throat.

Generally speaking, there is no such thing as a "trick" to deal with a small bone fragment stuck in the throat. The throat refers to the pharynx, and when a bone fragment becomes lodged there, the following measures can be taken: stop eating and drinking, try coughing, attempt to remove the bone with tweezers, seek professional medical assistance, or take anti-inflammatory medications. A detailed explanation is as follows:

  

1. Stop Eating and Drinking

Immediately upon sensing that a bone fragment is stuck in the throat, one should stop eating and drinking to prevent food or water from pushing the bone further in or causing secondary injuries.

2. Try Coughing

Coughing is a natural protective mechanism of the body that can generate strong airflow, which may help expel a bone fragment lodged in the superficial area of the throat. However, coughing may be ineffective if the foreign object is deeply or firmly lodged or is too large.

3. Attempt Removal with Tweezers

If the bone fragment is located in a relatively superficial area and can be seen with the help of lighting, one may attempt to remove it with tweezers with assistance from family members. However, the procedure should be performed carefully to avoid causing unnecessary injury.

4. Seek Professional Medical Assistance

If the bone fragment is deeply lodged, is relatively large, or if one cannot determine its exact location, one should promptly visit a formal medical facility. Doctors will use specialized instruments to remove the bone fragment based on its location and size.

5. Take Anti-inflammatory Medications

If the bone fragment is very small and embedded into the mucous membrane of the throat, it may cause significant pain. At this point, under a doctor's guidance, anti-inflammatory medications such as injectable sodium penicillin, azithromycin capsules, or amoxicillin capsules may be used to prevent local infection. Subsequently, the body's natural foreign-body reaction may help expel the bone fragment on its own.

Maintaining good eating habits and paying attention to mealtime safety in daily life can help prevent situations where bones become lodged in the throat.

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