Systemic corticosteroid therapy for high-pressure injection injuries of the hand

Two cases of high-pressure injection injuries of the hand have benefited from early administration of high doses of systemic corticosteroids. The pathophysiology of these injuries relates to: 1) Local mechanical tissue destruction from the injection; 2) Deleterious tissue responses to the injectant; and 3) Sequelae of secondary bacterial infection. Steroids have been shown experimentally to play a beneficial role in the second group of factors without increasing the incidence of secondary infection. The rapid favorable response to steroids demonstrated in the two reported cases suggests further use and investigation of this treatment modality is warranted.