FISH SCALE - AN UNUSUAL FOREIGN-BODY

Retained foreign bodies can be a source of infection and a cause of di sability, A 63-year-old white man presented with a nonhealing wound of the right second finger of 1 month's duration. The injury occurred wh ile cleaning fish. Radiographs and subsequent wound exploration showed a retained fish scale in a finger wound, In addition to foreign bodie s, atypical infectious organisms must be considered in nonhealing woun ds associated with fish or water. (C) 1995 by W,B, Saunders Company