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What Are The Complications Of A Stuck Glass In The Leg?

Posted on Fri, 7 Oct 2016

Question: My husband and I were in a car accident a little over a week ago. We were hit by a car on the passenger's side where my husband sat. He has many small cuts on his legs from the shattering glass. They do seem to be healing up pretty well, but he is worried that there might be glass under the skin. There was one small wound that I pulled a fragment of glass from. But the other wounds do not have puss and, he says that they don't hurt. But he still wonders if they should be checked out by a doctor. The EMS ppl at the accident didn't think we needed to go to the ER. I have heard that if there is a foreign substance under the skin that the body will eventually "push" it out. Is that true?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
partially, yes..

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome to HCM.

It is partially true.

If foreign body is placed superficially under the skin, then it may be extracted by our body. But if this is in deeper layers, then it will stay in body and 2 things may happen.

First, it can be surrounded by inflammatory cells and fibrous sheath may form and it will be neutrilized and stay in this form for lifetime.

Second, infection may occur and it would manifest with redness, pain and pus secretion. If he doesnt have these symptoms then there is no need for further treatment. If he has pricking pain then he should get done X-ray.

Wish you good health.
Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee