Logo Image
News|Poll|August 2, 2013

Fishhook in Boy's Finger

What's the best way to dislodge a fishhook? What if there is bony involvement?

A 3-year-old boy was at home with his cousin who was preparing for a fishing trip when a fishhook accidentally became lodged in the distal part of the child’s right middle finger. Radiographs confirmed the absence of bony infiltration.

Which statement(s) about removing a fishhook is true?

There are multiple approaches to dislodging a subcutaneous fishhook.
Advancement of the hook through an alternative site is more successful than removal through the initial point of penetration.
The best way to extract a barbed fishhook is the "cut and advance" method.
If bone involvement is suspected, imaging studies are needed to verify the hook's position before it is removed.
When bone is involved, the hook is pulled back before it is advanced through soft tissue.
Consider tetanus toxoid and prophylactic antibiotics when immunization status is unknown or not up-to-date.
All of the above are true.

Related to this article

View more