title: Imaging modalities in wounds and superficial skin infections.
abstract: Open wounds and lacerations are the most commonly encountered problems in emergency medicine. Detection and removal of a foreign body is essential to avoid the many complications of a retained foreign body, which may include infection, inflammation, allergic reaction, and disability. Currently, there are several imaging modalities that the emergency medicine provider may use to aid in foreign body detection and wound management. Techniques and appropriate use of these imaging modalities for foreign bodies and soft tissue infections are discussed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA. robert.b.blankenship@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Blankenship
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D002481:Cellulitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology