Fishing for Trouble: A Novel Surgical Technique for Penetrating Fishhook Injuries of the Eyelid

Cureus. 2023 Mar 21;15(3):e36478. doi: 10.7759/cureus.36478. eCollection 2023 Mar.

Abstract

Fishhook injuries commonly occur and may present as ophthalmic surgical emergencies. Choosing the appropriate removal technique is critical and depends on the involved extra- and intra-ocular structures and hook characteristics. We describe the case of a challenging fishhook removal where a novel surgical technique was developed. An eight-year-old boy presented with a full-thickness fishhook injury to the eyelid. During removal surgery, the thickness and density of the fishhook prevented surgical tools from transecting the shank. A novel approach was deemed necessary for safe removal, termed the clamp and retract technique. To our knowledge, this is its first documented use in the literature.

Keywords: clamp and retract; eyelid foreign body; fishhook injury; fishhook removal; removal technique.

Publication types

  • Case Reports