Fishhook Removal
Goals
To relieve pain, prevent infection, promote healing, and regain full function of affected body part.
Background
Most fishhook injuries are penetrating soft tissue wounds to the hand, face, head, or upper extremity. These injuries usually involve subcutaneous tissues because of the linear forces applied along the fishing line to the fishhook that drive the point parallel to the skin and keep it from deep penetration (Gammons & Jackson, 2001).
When examining the hook, it is important to note the number of hooks and whether the hook is barbed, including the number and location of barbs.
There are four primary techniques have been defined for the removal of fishhooks:
- Retrograde
- String-Yank
- Needle Cover
- Advance and Cut
The method selected to remove an embedded fishhook is usually based on the judgment of the health care provider, the anatomic location of the injury, and the type of fishhook.
Contraindications
Referral is warranted in the following situations:
- Fishhook in or close to the eye
- Suspected ligament involvement
- Penetration into a large bore artery
