Case report of metallic mercury injury.
OBJECTIVE
Injury and poisoning from metallic mercury has become a rare event. Review of the literature and a case report of pediatric metallic mercury injury are presented.


METHODS
A case report.


METHODS
The Emergency Department at St. Louis Children's Hospital.


METHODS
A 15-year-old boy.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
The 15-year-old boy fell on a broken mercury thermometer. A subcutaneous abscess formed on his left forearm during the next five days. He had no signs or symptoms of mercury toxicity. His wound was debrided in the operating room and healed completely after several months.


CONCLUSIONS
This case shows elemental mercury from a thermometer as a potential, if unusual, source of mercury toxicity.
Smith
S R
SR
Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, MO 63110-1077, USA.
Jaffe
D M
DM
Skinner
M A
MA
D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D005543:Forearm Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000209:etiology; D013821:Thermometers; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery
D008628:Mercury