Removing a foreign object (splinter, fishhook)
splinter removal · fishhook removal · foreign body in the skin · glass splinter removal
The doctor removes something stuck in your skin: a splinter, a piece of glass, or a fishhook. The area is numbed if needed.
When the object is deep, cannot be removed at home, is near the eye or on the face, or the area is getting inflamed.
⏱ Duration: usually 10 to 30 minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Do not pull it out yourself. A barbed hook or a deep shard is better not removed at home. You can make the wound bigger.
- Before the visit. Do not touch the area. You can cover it with a clean bandage. Hold a large object in place so it does not move.
- Eye. If something got into your eye, do not rub it. See a doctor right away.
What to bring
- Your ID
- Your tetanus shot record, if you have it
How it goes
- The doctor examines the area and decides how to remove the object
- Sometimes an X-ray or ultrasound is done to find a shard
- The skin is cleaned with antiseptic
- If needed, a numbing injection is given
- The object is carefully removed with an instrument
- The wound is rinsed and covered with a bandage
What you'll feel
- The numbing injection stings briefly
- Then you feel pressure, but no pain
- After the procedure, the spot may ache a little
Afterwards
- Keep the wound clean and dry for the first 24 hours
- Change the bandage as your doctor said
- Sometimes the doctor gives a tetanus shot
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Redness is spreading, or the area is hot and more and more painful
- Pus comes from the wound, or you get a fever
- A finger or hand goes numb or does not move well
Common questions
Can I remove a fishhook myself?
A small splinter near the surface, yes. A barbed hook is better left to a doctor, so the tissue is not torn.
Do I need a tetanus shot?
It depends on when you last had one. Your doctor will ask and decide.