THE ACUTE PATHOLOGICAL-CHANGES OF PAINT-INJECTION INJURY AND CORRELATION TO SURGICAL-TREATMENT - A REPORT OF 2 CASES

The early histologic changes of digital tissues after paint-injection injury support the urgent need to remove all contaminated tissue. Pain t causes immediate tissue necrosis on contact and then incites an imme diate necrotizing inflammatory reaction that persists if the tissues a re not completely debrided. Early histopathologic changes include Vess el thrombosis, tissue necrosis, and acute necrotizing inflammatory inf iltrate, all occuring only hours after injection injury. In light of t hese histologic changes, if paint cannot be completely removed from di gital arteries in an attempt to salvage the finger, then the wound sho uld be left open and the finger monitored for further necrosis in resp onse to the retained paint.