Inability to remove an object from a wound

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Inability to remove an object from a wound

In the following situations, do not try to remove an object from the wound. Seek medical care immediately:

• Do not remove an object that was injected at high pressure, such as a nail from a nail gun.
• If you are going to seek medical care, it is usually best to leave the object in place. Stabilize the object by holding or taping it in place. Splint your foot or ankle to help prevent the object from moving. The object can be removed by a doctor.

If the object has fallen out or has been removed, always check to see whether the object that caused the puncture wound is intact. If part of the object is still in the wound, it is usually best to have it removed by a doctor. If possible, take the broken object with you. An X-ray may be done to find a metal object still in a wound. Objects made of organic material, such as a wooden toothpick, may not be visible on X-ray and can be difficult to remove, even by a doctor. Other tests, such as an ultrasound, may be done to find an object that is not visible on an X-ray.

If the object is small and sticking out of the wound or visible in the wound, remove it with clean tweezers. Use care not to push the object further into the wound. Bleeding may increase when the object is removed. If the object is difficult to remove, leave it in place for removal by your doctor.

When an object is left in a puncture wound, the chance for infection increases and the puncture wound may not heal. Suspect that an object is still in the wound if:

• The object that caused the puncture wound is not intact.
• Pain significantly increases when pressure is applied to the wound.

Credits

Last updated:	October 27, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Gavin W.G. Chalmers, DPM - Podiatry and Podiatric Surgery
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer