Flexor tendon laceration of the hand from opening a glass ampoule

Sharps and needlestick injuries are serious work-related injuries to the hand in healthcare workers (HCWs). We present two cases of HCWs with hand injuries from opening a medicinal glass ampoule. The index finger (IF) was involved in both cases, with an associated flexor tendon injury, presenting as...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ case reports 2022-10, Vol.15 (10), p.e250439
Main Authors: Estrella, Emmanuel Pantaleon, Gavino, Sarah Olivia Javier
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case reports
Case Reports: Unusual presentation of more common disease/injury
Local anesthesia
Needlestick injuries
Patients
Range of motion
Skin
Surgery
Tendons
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:Sharps and needlestick injuries are serious work-related injuries to the hand in healthcare workers (HCWs). We present two cases of HCWs with hand injuries from opening a medicinal glass ampoule. The index finger (IF) was involved in both cases, with an associated flexor tendon injury, presenting as inability to flex the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints. Sensation was intact, and radiographs showed no foreign body. The surgical repair of the flexor tendon injury was carried out using the Wide-awake Local Anaesthesia No Tourniquet technique. The quality of the repair was tested intraoperatively. Physiotherapy involved gradual progression of finger flexion from 30% to 50% to full range of motion. At 36 and 42 months follow-up, they regained the IF range of motion and returned to work. Flexor tendon injuries from opening medicinal glass ampoules are rare but can be devastating, with a long rehabilitation process after surgical repair.
ISSN:1757-790X
1757-790X
DOI:10.1136/bcr-2022-250439