High-pressure injection injuries to the hand☆☆☆★

High-pressure injection injury hides the true extent of the lesions behind an apparent small and harmless puncture of the finger or the hand. Through clinical description, we wish to point out the need for prompt treatment to avoid mutilating and function-threatening complications. We wish to outline the role of the emergency physician who must be aware of the incidence of high-pressure injection injury and become accustomed to early referral to a surgeon, experienced in extensive surgical exploration, removal of foreign bodies, and rehabilitation. The open-wound technique gives the best results. We also point out that failure to refer may become an increasing focus of negligence claims. (Am J Emerg Med 2000;18:820-824. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company)