Is this your symptom?
- The skin is punctured by a pointed narrow object (wood splinter, fishhook, glass sliver, needle or skewer)
Causes of Puncture Wounds
- Metal: nail, sewing needle, pin, tack
- Pencil: a pencil lead is actually graphite (harmless). It is not poisonous lead. Even colored leads are not toxic.
- Wood: toothpick or splinter
- Glass
- Plant Matter: thorns from garden bushes or spines from houseplants, such as cactus
Problems with Puncture Wounds
- Retained Foreign Object. This happens if part of the object breaks off in the skin. The pain will not go away until it is removed. It can be hard to tell if this has happened. If you are not sure, contact your doctor.
- Wound Infection. This happens in 4% of foot punctures. The main symptom is spreading redness seen 2 or 3 days after the injury. Do not ignore.
- Bone Infection. If the sharp object also hits a bone, the bone can become infected. Punctures of the ball of the foot are at greatest risk. The main symptoms are increased swelling and pain 2 weeks after the injury. Contact your doctor right away.
When to Call for Puncture Wound
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