A drug addict may have pieces of broken needles left in the soft tissue of deep injection sites.
Sites where needles may be found:
(1) upper extremities
(2) neck
(3) thigh
(4) groin
The sites may be selected because more accessible veins can no longer be used or else the user is trying to hide the injection site.
Risk factors for a broken needle:
(1) passing out shortly after injecting
(2) long history of injection drug use
Complications of broken needles to the patient:
(1) cellulitis and/or abscess
(2) needle embolism
(3) pain
The needle should be visible on routine X-ray and ultrasound. The needle could pose a problem if the person has an MRI.
A broken needle can be a hazard to health care providers during surgery or even physical examination if it is unsuspected. The risk can be significant if the patient is positive for HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
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