Paper and other thin materials can cut skin under certain circumstances. This can be a painful surprise to office workers.
Mechanism: the shear force exerted by the paper exceeds the ability of the skin to resist it
Risk factors for a paper cut
(1) high velocity motion of the paper
(2) older adult with friable skin
(3) long-term corticosteroid therapy
(4) failure to wear a finger cot or other skin protection
A paper cut on a finger may be painful due to the density of nociceptors there.
Infectious complications may include:
(1) infection with Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes
(2) sporotrichosis
(3) hepatitis B
(4) cellulitis or necrotizing fasciitis
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Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Surgery, general
