Spines (also called thorns) of a cactus are a relatively common foreign body in the Southwest United States.
Usually the spines are found in the fingers, hands or elsewhere in the extremities but occasionally they may involve:
(1) the eye
(2) the mediastinum or other deep structure
Clinical findings:
(1) pain or discomfort
(2) acute inflammation
(3) granulomatous inflammation
(4) secondary infection
Several methods of removal have been reported. Removal of spines depends on the size, number and location. Martinez at al used
(1) tweezers to remove clumps of spines
(2) a thin layer of glue covered by a piece of gauze which is then peeled off after the glue has dried (somewhat similar to a Brazilian waxing)
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Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
