TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 97. Subcutaneous Foreign Body Identification and Removal A1 - Reichman, Eric F. PY - 2013 T2 - Emergency Medicine Procedures, 2e AB - Wounds with retained foreign bodies are a frequent presenting complaint to Emergency Departments. Up to 38% of embedded objects are missed on the initial assessment.1 Identification and removal of debris and foreign bodies promote optimal healing of traumatic wounds. The presence of an unrecognized foreign body can lead to complications that include infection, pain, loss of function, joint injury, tenosynovitis, tendon rupture, and osteomyelitis.2–5 Patients presenting with chronic, recurrent, or delayed skin infections should be assessed for the presence of an unrecognized foreign body. Failure to diagnose and treat a foreign body is a common cause of litigation against Emergency Physicians. The presence of a foreign body may not be obvious. A high index of suspicion and careful methodical examination, including appropriate imaging, must be undertaken to identify a foreign body. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57710600 ER -