Flexor Tendon Lacerations Due to High-Pressure Water Injection Injury: A Case Report

Abstract

The non-dominant hand and index finger are the most frequently involved in high-pressure injection injuries [6, 7]. The magnitude and extent of the injury are related to the chemical properties of, as well as the velocity of, the pressured substance. Many different materials have been reported as offending substances in high-pressure injection injuries, including paint, paint thinner, diesel fuel, organic solvents, grease, and water [6, 7, 11, 12]. It is commonly accepted that, unlike with other materials, high-pressure injection injuries involving water create a minimal inflammatory response that may recover with conservative treatment [2, 8, 9, 11]. Even though the majority of high-pressure water injection injuries are benign, the mechanical force of the compressed water can cause significant soft tissue injuries [1, 3, 12, 13]. To our knowledge, there is only one previously reported case of extensor tendon and superficial branch of radial nerve laceration after high-pressure water injection injury to the hand [1]. In this study, we present a laceration to the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus tendons of the left index finger caused by a high-pressure water injection injury.