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Glass foreign bodies - hand

Case contributed by Maulik S Patel
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

History of glass injury to the ulnar aspect of palm around 18 months back. Mild local pain worse in the last few days.

Patient Data

Age: 10 years
Gender: Male
ultrasound

Multiple linear echogenic foci in the soft tissue of palm at the site of pain pointed by the patient; all consistent with foreign bodies.

The first images demonstrate an echogenic linear structure in the subcutaneous plane at the site of pain that shows reverberation artifact. Length is about 8 mm; width is up to 3 mm.

The second images demonstrate another echogenic linear structure radial to the above mentioned foreign body. It reaches deep to intact flexure tendon of 5th digit.

The third image demonstrates another echogenic linear focus between the two above mentioned foreign bodies.

A fourth echogenic linear structure was indicated also on ultrasound (not shown).

x-ray

Four radiopacities in the soft tissues of palm on the ulnar side with no signs of osteomyelitis in the adjacent bones.

Case Discussion

Glass foreign bodies were removed at surgery.

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