Upper extremity injection of household insecticide: A report of five cases

Self-injection of household insecticide into the upper extremity in 5 patients is reported. All patients had mental problems, such as depression, substance abuse, or both. Four of the 5 cases were suicide attempts. Household insecticides can be divided into 3 categories based on the main chemical component. The hydrocarbon vehicle used in these insecticides, however, is poorly cleared by the local tissues and is responsible for fever, leukocytosis, and liquifaction necrosis. The focus for the hand surgeon is recognition and early and frequently repeated debridement. Psychiatric treatment and hand therapy are required. (J Hand Surg 2000;25A: 764–767. Copyright © 2000 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.)