Foreign bodies within the hand may be the focus of recurrent abscesses. If the initial injury has been forgotten, a recurrently swollen and painful hand must make the clinician think of this differential.
Foreign bodies can be divided into two groups:
Removal may be undertaken by surgical exploration. Identification of the foreign body's position may require X-rays in two planes with surface radio-opaque markers for localisation. Alternatively, radiographic screening with on-table fluroscopy is used.
Broad spectrum antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended.
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