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Updated: May 13, 2026
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Published on: September 11, 2018
Fishhook removal: case reports and a review of the literature
Michael Prats1, Michael O'Connell, Austin Wellock
1College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Background:
Fishhook injuries are common among people who fish for recreation, but can be encountered in anyone who has handled a fishhook. They represent a unique challenge for Emergency Physicians who seek to remove them without causing further tissue damage from the barbed nature of the hook.
Objective:
Our aim was to discuss the techniques available to providers in the removal of a barbed fishhook by illustrating actual cases seen in the Emergency Department.
Case Reports:
We present two cases of patients with fishhook injuries. We discuss the proper assessment of these injuries. We describe techniques for removing a barbed hook from a patient's skin and offer images to guide management.
Conclusions:
Understanding the unique nature of fishhook injuries and awareness of techniques to manage them are essential to the practicing Emergency Physician.
