Foreign Body

What Are the Different Types of Foreign Bodies?

Several varieties of foreign body material can enter your skin to cause a wound. Foreign body removal is essential to prevent infection, inflammatory reactions, nerve block, or other associated complications. Having a professional remove foreign bodies will also help to avoid having the foreign bodies enter the vital tissues leading to local infection. Here are some of the most common types of soft tissue foreign bodies:

• Metallic foreign body– can occur from the material in pencils
• Glass foreign bodies– from damaged windowpanes or drinking glasses
• Deeper foreign bodies– from fishhooks while fishing
• Superficial foreign bodies– from plants at home or in the woods
• Organic foreign bodies– typically from a battery-operated or electrically-charged nail gun
• Wooden foreign bodies– from fences, doors, or other wooden objects

Most foreign body injuries are in the hands or fingers, but it is also possible to have a foreign body injury in the ear, nose, eyes, or throat. Infants and toddlers can find dangerous objects such as watch batteries, small toys, or pebbles, and these items can become lethal in the trachea or the esophagus. If someone can’t breathe due to a foreign body, then it is essential to call paramedics for emergency treatment. Don’t try to remove any suspected foreign body on your own, and also, don’t induce vomiting to remove the object from the stomach. Self-removal of foreign bodies results in residual foreign body remnants oftentimes.

Removing Foreign Bodies on Your Own

However, many foreign bodies are easy to remove on your own, including wooden splinters. In some cases, you can also remove a fishhook, but if it is in a delicate area of the body, then visit an urgent care center for professional removal. It is a good idea to have a first-aid kit at your home so that you can remove most foreign objects with tweezers. First, sterilize the tweezers with an antiseptic solution such as hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. Wash the area of the skin where there is a foreign body, or use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to destroy pathogens. Use the tweezers to pull the splinter or other foreign body from the skin. If the wound bleeds profusely, then you should apply pressure and seek medical attention quickly. For minor bleeding, you can wash the wound with warm water and soap along with applying a disinfectant several times a day. When the wound is larger, you should cover it with an adhesive bandage. If you have a puncture wound, then you may need stitches to repair the skin and underlying tissues.

Frequently Asked Questions about Foreign Bodies

What types of tests may need to be done with foreign body injuries? Depending on your individual case, your doctor may have you undergo some testing to view the extent of the damage, including ultrasound or X-ray. Are foreign body injuries severe? Depending on the size and location of the foreign body, these injuries may be severe. It is recommended that you seek out medical care as soon as possible to assess the situation. Why is foreign body removal important for my health? When you have any type of foreign material in your skin, removal is vital to prevent inflammation, infection, nerve blocks, or other complications. Should I remove a foreign body on my own? It is recommended that you do not try to remove a foreign body yourself. It should be removed by a medical professional to ensure your safety. What are the most common foreign bodies found in these types of injuries? While the type of foreign body in these forms of injuries can vary greatly, the most common include splinters, fish hooks, and glass.

Come into WellCare

If you have got a foreign body stuck in some body part the best way to treat this is by coming into WellCare Urgent Care Center. Our team will be able to remove the foreign body in a safe manner and prevent causing any further damage. Book a same-day appointment online at our Cascade or Leonard locations to meet with our team.