High pressure injection injuries of the hand

In high pressure injection injuries to the hand most commonly injected materials are automotive grease, diesel oil, and paint. The authors treated 26 patients with high pressure injection injuries of the hand and found that the injection of paint resulted in a poorer prognosis than did the injection of grease. Amputation is often necessary with paint injections into a digit, while injections into the palm have a somewhat better prognosis. The disability time of patients with paint injection injuries appeared to be directly related to the time elapsed until amputation of the involved digit. Although the authors were unable to specifically relate the ultimate result to the time elapsed between injury and proper treatment, they continue to recommend early aggressive wide debridement of these injuries.