Detection of foreign bodies in the hand

Fresh cadaver hands were used to compare the ability of routine x-ray, xeroradiography, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging to identify a variety of foreign bodies including glass, gravel, plastic, and wood in the soft tissue of the hand. All types of glass were easily seen by all imaging methods. Gravel foreign bodies were visible with all methods except magnetic resonance imaging where ferromagnetic streak artifacts obscured visualization. Plastic, although not seen by routine x-ray or xeroradiography, was faintly seen by computed tomography, and easily detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Wooden foreign bodies, especially when wet, were seen only by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Xeroradiography had no benefit over plain films in identifying foreign bodies and should be discarded in favor of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging when plain films are unrevealing. A practical guide for identifying foreign bodies in the soft tissues of the hand is presented.