Accidental radiation injury to the hand: a case report

Abstract

A 46-year-old patient with severe radiation injury of his hand was presented to our clinic. Five months previously, the patient had repaired a piece of metallic equipment which was later discovered to belong to a gammagraphy machine. The fifth ray of his left hand, having ulceration of the volar–ulnar side of the palm, was resected, and the resulting defect was repaired with a posterior interosseous flap. However, owing to the progressive nature of the disease, the patient developed further necrosis around the flap, and the third and fourth fingers. Therefore, further amputations were needed. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy with sympathectomy was used postoperatively. A radiation ulcer on the abdominal area developed in the tenth postoperative month, this was due to contact of his abdomen with the table on which he put the radiation source. This ulceration was excised and closed primarily. We would like to emphasize in the light of this case that all radiation sources and their management during all phases of application, transport and disposal should be strictly controlled.