Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
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To evaluate the possibility that sonography might be effective in the clinical detection of foreign bodies in the soft tissues, we used high-resolution sonography to study 10 patients with suspected foreign bodies in the hand and foot. Using ultrasound, we detected foreign bodies (glass, metal wire) in the sole of the foot of two patients and glass in the hand of another. Seven patients were proved to be free of foreign bodies. ⋯ Ultrasound also pinpointed the surface beneath which the foreign bodies lay and localized all precisely as to depth from the surface. While detection of a foreign body is important, precise localization is crucial to avoid miscalculation of surgery leading to increased tissue damage, blood loss, and an increased risk of complications. This initial study suggests that high-resolution sonography has applicability in both the detection and the precise localization of foreign bodies in the soft tissues, but the sensitivity and specificity of the procedure remains to be determined.