Palm frond foreign body

Case contributed by Mark Holland
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Keen gardener presented to GP with painful swelling in the first web space for 2 weeks post penetration from the tip of a palm frond

Patient Data

Age: 60 years
Gender: Male
ultrasound

A 1.3cm echogenic foreign body is present with some surrounding fluid, but no significant shadowing. 

Case Discussion

Tip of palm leaves form a hard spine that easily splinters to cause a painful foreign body reaction in the subcutaneous tissues

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