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Puncture Wounds of the Foot Updated 4/2010

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BASICS

  • Description
  • General Prevention
  • Epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Etiology

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • General Measures
  • Medication (Drugs)
  • Surgery

Ongoing Care

  • Prognosis
  • Complications
  • Patient Monitoring
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
  • Puncture injuries of the foot typically occur on the plantar surface of the forefoot or heel.
  • The injuring object usually is a nail, needle, or pin, but it can be anything that punctures the soft tissue, including thorns, glass, and splinters.
  • Classification:
    • Early presentation: Day of injury
    • Late presentation: At least 3–5 days after puncture, when deep infection develops
General Prevention

Avoid going barefoot outdoors or in areas with debris such as wood fragments or nails.

Epidemiology
  • Anecdotally, this injury is more common in children.
  • Males are affected more often than females.
Incidence
  • Puncture wounds of the foot constitute 0.5–1% of all emergency room visits by children (1).
  • Only 0.6% of children with puncture ...

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See Also
Images >
FIG. 65.9. "Whittling" of the middle phalanx and expansion of the base of the distal phalanx—the "pencil-in-cup" deformity. Credit: William J. Koopman, Larry W. Moreland, Arthritis and Allied Conditions A Textbook of Rheumatology, 15e. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005.
DDx/Tx Algorithms >
Procedures & PT >