title: An unusual foreign body in the hand: delayed presentation of an intact human tooth. A case report.
abstract: A 44 year old man presented with a painful, swollen right hand 10 days after a brawl. A radiography showed an intact human tooth embedded in the soft tissue between the metacarpals of the middle and index fingers. The tooth was removed, and the wound debrided and left to heal by second intention. He made a complete recovery. This case emphasizes the importance of a plain radiography, particularly when skin has been breached, and of removal and adequate debridement. Our patient was lucky to have had a successful outcome after so long a delay in treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mackay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003646:Debridement; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D014070:Tooth; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating