Radial artery penetrating injury with a retained agave spine: diagnostic and surgical considerations.
Cheuk Shan Choi, Vikram Iyer, Anantha Narayanan
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A patient presented with progressive wrist pain and swelling due to a penetrating radial artery injury from a retained agave spine after a minor gardening incident. Doppler ultrasound revealed a linear foreign body within the artery without active bleeding. The spine was removed through open surgical exploration, and a minor mural thrombus was identified. The patient recovered well, maintaining arterial patency at follow-up.
What made this case unusual
The case illustrates the diagnostic challenges posed by organic, radiolucent foreign bodies, which can be difficult to detect with standard imaging techniques.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider the possibility of retained organic foreign bodies in cases of penetrating injuries, especially when imaging reveals atypical findings.
Why it matters
This case underscores the importance of selecting appropriate imaging modalities for diagnosing retained foreign bodies in minor penetrating injuries, which can significantly impact surgical management and outcomes.