High-pressure injection injury
Background
- Occurs with grease, paint, and fuel guns; usually into non-dominant hand
- Surgical emergency
- Amputation rates are as high as 30%
Diagnosis
- Benign appearance of small injection site in immediate postinjection period is misleading
- With time digit becomes edematous, pale, and severely tender to palpation
- X-ray
- May show extent of injection of radiopaque substances
Treatment
- Early surgical decompression and debridement
- Immobilize and elevate affected hand
- Tetanus
- Abx
Source
Tintinalli
