Localization, detection and guided removal of soft tissue in the hands using sonography

Penetrating wounds and lacerations are frequent pathologies treated in the emergency room. The management of hand trauma represents a large part of the work in any surgical practice. Although X-rays are routinely taken, numerous foreign bodies remain undetected, and the wounds are just locally debrided and the lacerations sutured. Unfortunately, as not all foreign bodies are radio-opaque, the radiography results may appear normal, but the patient fails to recover. Patients complaining of persistent wound tenderness were sent for ultrasound investigations, and foreign bodies were detected. Had ultrasonography been carried out initially in the emergency room, the correct diagnosis would have been made, and the sonographic equipment could have helped to guide the physician in his attempt to remove the foreign body. Usually, in response to continued pain, an ultrasound investigation is ordered, and the pathology becomes apparent. A number of examples are briefly described in order to highlight the present inadequacies. It is suggested that hospital administrators consider the need to provide ultrasonographic services as an integral facility of the emergency room. Received: 20 December 1999