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Retained Needle Fragments in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy

Retained Needle Fragments in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy To the Editor: Long-standing peripheral neuropathy often compromises the normal protective mechanisms of pain in the affected extremities. In addition to chronic ulceration, acute injury due to foreign bodies also may occur. Broken fragments of insulin needles may "silently" penetrate the soft tissues, acting as a constant source of infection and reinjury. While the risk of such "silent needle" penetration seems apparent, only a single case of this complication has been reported previously.1 Report of Cases From 1988 to 1999 we evaluated 6 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes with sensory neuropathy and needle fragments in soft tissues. The patients were aged 47 to 75 years, 5 were women, and 5 were African American. Four patients had needle fragments in the soft tissues of their feet, 1 patient had a fragment in the abdominal wall, and 1 with coincidental syringomyelia had a fragment in the shoulder. Two patients had severe proximal muscle weakness, and 3 had neuropathic arthropathy of the foot and ankle. One patient had amputation of the right great toe secondary to osteomyelitis. Radiography of this patient's left foot and ankle (Figure 1) revealed neuropathic arthropathy and 2 needle fragments embedded in the soft tissues. Comment The most common cause of peripheral sensory neuropathy is type 2 diabetes mellitus.2 The sensory deficit often results in significant morbidity such as neuropathic arthropathy and soft tissue injuries with secondary ulcers on the foot. These lesions are caused by a loss of pain-mediated compensatory mechanisms during normal weight-bearing movement.3 Unfortunately, regular insulin injections, which are so vital in treating diabetes, pose a risk by exposing the patient to small and very sharp foreign bodies, particularly if these needles are broken off prior to disposal. The feet of diabetic patients are prone to frequent complications from even trivial injuries due to their relative ischemia and neuropathic insensitivity.4 Furthermore, walking barefoot, carpeted floors, compromised visual acuity due to retinopathy,5 and abnormal gait due to myopathy all increase the risk of injury. Physicians caring for patients with sensory neuropathy should look for evidence of puncture wounds, and radiographs of the foot should be examined carefully for tiny metal fragments. Letters Section Editors: Phil B. Fontanarosa, MD, Deputy Editor; Stephen J. Lurie, MD, PhD, Contributing Editor. References 1. Woolfrey PG, Kirby RL. Hypodermic needles in the neuropathic foot of a patient with diabetes. CMAJ. 1998;158:765-767. PubMedGoogle Scholar 2. McNeely MJ, Boyko EL, Ahroni JH, et al. The independent contributions of diabetic neuropathy and vasculopathy in foot ulceration: how great are the risks? Diabetes Care. 1995;18:216-219. PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 3. Grunfeld C. Diabetic foot ulcers: etiology, treatment, and prevention. Adv Intern Med. 1991;37:103-132. PubMedGoogle Scholar 4. Coughlin RR. Common injuries of the foot. Postgrad Med. 1989;86:175-183.Google ScholarCrossref 5. Shaw JE, Boulton AJ. Poor vision as a contributory factor in diabetic neuro-arthropathy. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1997;38:21-23. PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Retained Needle Fragments in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy

Retained Needle Fragments in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy

Abstract

To the Editor: Long-standing peripheral neuropathy often compromises the normal protective mechanisms of pain in the affected extremities. In addition to chronic ulceration, acute injury due to foreign bodies also may occur. Broken fragments of insulin needles may "silently" penetrate the soft tissues, acting as a constant source of infection and reinjury. While the risk of such "silent needle" penetration seems apparent, only a single case of this complication has been...
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References (7)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2000 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.283.23.3068h
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

To the Editor: Long-standing peripheral neuropathy often compromises the normal protective mechanisms of pain in the affected extremities. In addition to chronic ulceration, acute injury due to foreign bodies also may occur. Broken fragments of insulin needles may "silently" penetrate the soft tissues, acting as a constant source of infection and reinjury. While the risk of such "silent needle" penetration seems apparent, only a single case of this complication has been reported previously.1 Report of Cases From 1988 to 1999 we evaluated 6 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes with sensory neuropathy and needle fragments in soft tissues. The patients were aged 47 to 75 years, 5 were women, and 5 were African American. Four patients had needle fragments in the soft tissues of their feet, 1 patient had a fragment in the abdominal wall, and 1 with coincidental syringomyelia had a fragment in the shoulder. Two patients had severe proximal muscle weakness, and 3 had neuropathic arthropathy of the foot and ankle. One patient had amputation of the right great toe secondary to osteomyelitis. Radiography of this patient's left foot and ankle (Figure 1) revealed neuropathic arthropathy and 2 needle fragments embedded in the soft tissues. Comment The most common cause of peripheral sensory neuropathy is type 2 diabetes mellitus.2 The sensory deficit often results in significant morbidity such as neuropathic arthropathy and soft tissue injuries with secondary ulcers on the foot. These lesions are caused by a loss of pain-mediated compensatory mechanisms during normal weight-bearing movement.3 Unfortunately, regular insulin injections, which are so vital in treating diabetes, pose a risk by exposing the patient to small and very sharp foreign bodies, particularly if these needles are broken off prior to disposal. The feet of diabetic patients are prone to frequent complications from even trivial injuries due to their relative ischemia and neuropathic insensitivity.4 Furthermore, walking barefoot, carpeted floors, compromised visual acuity due to retinopathy,5 and abnormal gait due to myopathy all increase the risk of injury. Physicians caring for patients with sensory neuropathy should look for evidence of puncture wounds, and radiographs of the foot should be examined carefully for tiny metal fragments. Letters Section Editors: Phil B. Fontanarosa, MD, Deputy Editor; Stephen J. Lurie, MD, PhD, Contributing Editor. References 1. Woolfrey PG, Kirby RL. Hypodermic needles in the neuropathic foot of a patient with diabetes. CMAJ. 1998;158:765-767. PubMedGoogle Scholar 2. McNeely MJ, Boyko EL, Ahroni JH, et al. The independent contributions of diabetic neuropathy and vasculopathy in foot ulceration: how great are the risks? Diabetes Care. 1995;18:216-219. PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref 3. Grunfeld C. Diabetic foot ulcers: etiology, treatment, and prevention. Adv Intern Med. 1991;37:103-132. PubMedGoogle Scholar 4. Coughlin RR. Common injuries of the foot. Postgrad Med. 1989;86:175-183.Google ScholarCrossref 5. Shaw JE, Boulton AJ. Poor vision as a contributory factor in diabetic neuro-arthropathy. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1997;38:21-23. PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Journal

JAMAAmerican Medical Association

Published: Jun 21, 2000

Keywords: diabetic neuropathies,needles

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