Upper extremity injuries due to medications

One hundred eleven patients were treated for upper extremity complications due to therapeutic agents. Forty-nine injuries were associated with chemotherapy and 62 with so-called "non-toxic" solutions. Twenty-five required debridement and skin coverage operations, and six required emergency fasciotomies. The most effective regimen included immediately stopping the intravenous line, elevation, avoidance of antidotes, late debridement and coverage, and early rehabilitation.