Retained Needle Fragments and Digital Dissection

Abstract

To the Editor: When incising and draining an abscess, it is common to perform blunt soft-tissue dissection with a gloved finger. This practice is potentially dangerous. A 32-year-old man with a history of chronic intravenous drug use was evaluated in the emergency room after he reported pain and swelling in his left arm. The proximal volar forearm, where he frequently injected drugs, was markedly indurated. Lymphangitis and an enlarged axillary lymph node were present. The patient was admitted to the hospital. The surgical consultant incised the indurated area and performed extensive blunt dissection with his gloved finger. Minimal loculated fluid… © 1993, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.