An arthroscopy was performed and the thorn removed. Once a synovectomy for plant thorn arthritis has been performed, the joint tends to heal well without residual problems. Knuckle on index finger is swollen and red. I was trimming the old limbs off my palm trees Saturday and I got poked a few times by the needles close to the base of the branch. Kindly provided by Xiaohui (Sheila) Zhao, MD, PhD, of Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine Medical Center. Date palm thorn injuries are common in Middle Eastern countries, where there are many date palm plantations. When swelling of a palm-thorn puncture wound occurs, arthrocentesis may be necessary to rule out bacterial or fungal infection. The patient underwent cataract extraction and laser demarcation of the subretinal foreign body, which was not removed. If the thorn of a sago palm tree punctures your skin, get medical help, just to be on the safe side. The injuries are usually caused by the thorns lying beneath the trees in place who work in the plantation. These forms of arthritis require urgent antibiotic treatment. Some species of palm trees can be dangerous if you touch them in the wrong spot. Palm trees can be dangerous if you touch them in the wrong spot. With permission, these are intraoperative photos of the author's right third metacarpophalangeal joint exposing inflamed joint lining tissue (synovium) from which a 1 mm thorn tip from the common palm tree, With permission, photos of joint lining tissue (yellowish synovium) resected from author's right third metacarpophalangeal joint after thorn puncture with 1 mm thorn tip (dark dot on thorn covered with joint lining tissue) from the common palm tree. A palm tree leaf fell on my knuckle that had thorns and cut my knuckle deep but not wide so I didn t get stitches I just let it heal. Although he recovered fully, he was hospitalized for more than a week and underwent surgery to remove the thorn fragments and wash out the infection. The plant thorn fragments cause a localized inflammation reaction in the joint lining tissue that leads to swelling, stiffness, loss of range of motion, and pain. Puncture injuries may look harmless, but bits of thorny debris carrying potentially harmful fungi or soil bacteria may lodge inside the wound and cause infection. … Arthritis caused by plant thorn penetration is a well known medical condition, especially among children.1–9 It has been described following injuries from thorns of several kinds of plants,includingpalm,yucca,hawthorn,bougainvillea,sentry plant,blackthorn,cactus.and rose thorn.1–9 The thorn of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera; fig 2) is par- Plant thorn arthritis typically affects only a single joint -- the joint that was pierced by the plant thorn. This form of single joint arthritis (monoarthritis) then becomes chronic until appropriately treated. the type and frequency of thorn injury. the thorn injury has been forgotten. While plant thorn arthritis is technically noninfectious, these two forms of infectious arthritis can occur from plant thorn puncture of a joint, with or without true plant thorn arthritis. The symptoms of plant thorn arthritis may occur long after the thorn is removed from the affected joint. That's because joint problems near a wound may not develop immediately. A gardener, she writes for California's Flowers by the Sea nursery. Treatment with antibiotics is critical if such an infection is present. What is the prognosis of plant thorn arthritis? The sharp tips of palm frond blades may be toxic. It feels almost arthritic in it's pain. The intensity and duration of pain, the results of imaging procedures, and the outcome of treatment were monitored. Stevens, K.J., et al. Sharp thorns on their branches, trunks and the undersides or tips of fronds can puncture the skin and cause bacterial or fungal infections. It has become increasingly painful but is not swollen. Pathology photo showing thorn material (blue and yellow birefringent material) visualized under polarized light microscopy. This possibility can be excluded by removing joint fluid and culturing the fluid in the laboratory. According to MedicineNet.com, thorn fragments often affect the synovium or tissue lining a joint and may require surgical removal or synovectomy. If you have sago palms in or around your home, make sure your pets can't get close to them. “It wasn’t an infection they discovered, it was a chemical reaction; a medical word for poisoning from the phoenix palm. It can help to wear protective clothing, gloves, etc., as well as being cautious when near or working with thorny plants. Doctors who perform operative treatments include orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons. MedicineNet.com notes that although puncture wounds usually bleed little, if at all, they become infected easily. These symptoms may be noticed only many days after the initial thorn puncture. Although thorn fragments may remain embedded if there's no infection, they're likely to cause recurring discomfort, which means that surgical removal may be a good idea in any case. Plant thorn arthritis requires operative intervention. Jim was industriously off at the store purchasing cement blocks, and I was in
Also, does mesquite tree have thorns? Most mesquite trees will have thorns which can be very long or short and very sharp. This arthritis persists until the fragments are removed with a surgical operation. Is the Sap From the Century Plant Poisonous? First, the tree will drop its fruit prematurely. To help prevent infection, perform immediate basic first aid on any puncture wound – especially those caused by palm tree thorns. Clinical outcome was favourable with complete symptoms resolution. You will note that their introduction page cites a study in Panama from 1943 that says palm frond thorn injuries (palm species not named) are noted for causing infections. Pathology photo showing multinucleated giant cell granulomatous reaction (triangle point), synovial hyperplasia, fibrosis, and adjacent foreign vegetable matter (arrow with thorn fragments) with hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E stain). Toxic to Pets, Too. Post by country boy » Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:07 pm If it has got Fan like leaves, and Barbs on the leaf stalk near the trunk then it is probably Washingtonia; Phoenix Canariensis has wicked Spikes near … Removal of joint fluid (joint aspiration) is performed to rule out bacterial or fungal infection of the joint. We report the case of a 14 year old healthy boy, who was admitted six weeks after being injured by a palm tree thorn, with limping caused by pain and swelling in his right knee. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Administer basic first aid in the event you sustain a palm-thorn puncture injury and keep an eye on the wound as inflammation requires medical treatment. Pantoea agglomerans as a cause of septic arthritis after palm tree thorn injury; case report and literature review A Kratz , D Greenberg , Y Barki , E Cohen , and M Lifshitz Pediatrics Department D, Soroka University Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheba, Israel. Date thorn is a modified leaf that ends in a spine of the palm tree, Phoenix anarensis. Pantoea agglomerans was identified in the synovial fluid. The second patient was a 58-year-old-man, with a family history of spondylarthritis, who was admitted with a monoarthritis of the left wrist that occurred 10 weeks after palm tree thorn injury. Background:Palm tree thorn injury is characterized by a painful and protracted inflammation. The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera and Phoenix canariensis) (Figure 4) and sentinel palm ( Washingtonia MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Suggest treatment for thorn injury on palm . One in particular was close to the knuckle on my right index finger. The most common joints affected by plant thorn arthritis are those that can be exposed to being stabbed by falling into or brushing up against plants with thorns. Sharp thorns on various parts of the trees can puncture the skin and cause bacterial or fungal infections. Keep children and pets away from spiny palm trees or, while the plants are small, carefully prune off spines that may be within their reach. Re: Are the spines on palm trees poisonous? Stiffness, swelling and pain near the point of entry are symptoms. Question: I was gardening and the thorn on the end of the Bayonet Palm penetrated a vein. pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebellenii, USDA zones 10 through 11) has leaflets near the base that form piercing 2- to 3-inch thorns; * the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis, USDA zones 9 through 11) has extremely sharp 2- to 3-inch spines on the lower half of its leaf petioles, the thin stems that support the leaves. For example. Sometimes tiny pieces of thorns can be visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scanning), high-resolution computerized tomography (HR-CAT scanning), or ultrasound imaging. This requires cleaning the wound area thoroughly with soap and water and applying antibiotic ointment and a bandage. Dogs especially seem to enjoy the taste of the plants. The joint loses its full range of motion and is often tender. Ultimately, the diagnosis of plant thorn arthritis requires either detection of a piece of thorn within the joint by radiology testing or surgical removal of the thorn fragments and identification of the fragments microscopically in the laboratory. Arthritis: 16 Bad Habits That Cause Joint Pain. An ultrasound examination revealed a foreign body in the posterior lateral aspect of the right knee. ", Facts you should know about plant thorn arthritis. The plants that commonly cause plant thorn arthritis are those that produce thorns. When a tree is infected with lethal bronzing, the symptoms start slowly. It is not uncommon for the person affected by plant thorn arthritis to remove the thorn immediately after the puncture and then develop the arthritis many days or weeks later and not even recall that the joint had been punctured previously! Plant thorn arthritis can be prevented by avoiding exposure to the thorns of plants. Is it possible to prevent plant thorn arthritis? Before and after using pruning tools, disinfect the blades by wiping them with a clean cloth soaked with rubbing alcohol to help prevent the spread of diseases between plants. Without surgical resection of the plant fragments, joint inflammation persists and permanent joint destruction can occur. Plant thorn arthritis typically affects only a single joint -- the joint that was pierced by the plant thorn. A systematic approach to medical decision-making of uncommon clinical pictures: A case of ulcerative skin lesions by palm tree thorn injury and a one-year follow-up Article Oct 2005 If y… An ultrasound examination revealed a foreign body in the posterior lateral aspect of the right knee. In a reasonable attempt to better the lives of my daughter, Cara, and
How Dangerous Are the Thorns on a Hawthorn Tree? A search of ACC claim form records for possible phoenix palm spike injuries revealed 644 … During a synovectomy, the surgeon will remove the affected and surrounding joint lining tissue (synovium) to be certain that microscopic joint fragments within the joint and its lining are eliminated from the body. a hurry to get the pruning completed so as not slow the construction of a block
'Punctures by sharp thorns on the petioles of these palms are commonly experienced by nursery workers and landscape gardeners in … However, chronic arthritis eventually develops even long after the plant thorn injury because of the thorn fragments remaining in the joint. I had throbbing pain and swelling with stiffness of the joints affected. Find Palm Tree Thorn Injury Woman Knee stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. The joint lining tissue is called the synovium. assisted them in landscaping one fine weekend day. Inflammation of this tissue is medically referred to as synovitis. The plant thorn fragments cause a localized inflammation reaction in the joint lining tissue that leads to swelling, stiffness, loss of range of motion, and pain. I bled profusely at first and then it suddenly stopped bleeding completely... it now seems to be forming a clot. Shortly after the injury, the boy received antibiotics that temporarily relieved his pain and swelling. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. There is no chance of a tree surviving once the spear leaf, or the youngest leaf of a palm tree… Arthrocentesis, which involves using a needle to withdraw fluid from a swollen joint, eventually led to the identification of Pantoea agglomerans, a common soil bacterium, as the cause of the boy's septic arthritis. The joint loses its full range of motion and is often tender. Physical therapy rehabilitation exercises can be helpful to restore normal joint function. The intensity and duration of pain, the results of imaging procedures, and the outcome of treatment were monitored. It is important to recognize that puncturing a joint with a foreign material, such as a plant thorn, can lead to bacterial infection (septic arthritis) or fungal infection (fungal arthritis) of the joint. © 1996-2020 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. You can take a number of steps to help prevent palm-spine injuries: Alicia Rudnicki's Library Mix website blends book buzz for all ages. In England the black thorn (Pnmus spinous), a perennial shrub, is the most common cause of thorn injury (2). The tissue forms a characteristic reaction, called a granulomatous reaction, within the synovium (granulomatous synovitis). Some species of palm trees can be dangerous if you touch them in the wrong spot. the knuckles... Plant thorn arthritis causes the involved joint to be. Puncture injuries may look harmless, but bits of thorny debris may lodge inside the wound. A thorn from the same tree grew Bacillus cereus. Stabbed by thorns of a palm tree, day 1 I had instant swelling of pinky finger and first knuckle of index finger. These plants include palm trees, roses, black-thorn shrubs, cacti, bougainvillea, yucca, pyracantha, plum trees, and mesquite trees. Hold the part of the needle or blade that is going to touch the wound over an open flame until the metal reddensfor about a minutethen let it cool before you proceed. Kindly provided by Xiaohui (Sheila) Zhao, MD, PhD, of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine Medical Center. Phoenix palm trees with their poisonous stabbing frond spikes are taking a heavy toll on Kiwis. The two inch monstrosity was thought to have been from a palm tree … See additional information. Examination after 2 weeks of the injury revealed a subretinal foreign body (a palm tree thorn), although there were no signs of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment. Posted on Tue, 24 Mar 2015 . Risk factors for plant thorn arthritis include gardening, especially without gloves, and exposure to thorn-bearing plants, including palm trees, roses, black-thorn shrubs, cacti, bougainvillea, yucca, pyracantha, plum trees, and mesquite trees. 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Seems to be forming a clot such as Texas palm ( palm Sun. Of plant thorn see some black soot, do n't bother wiping it off when handling the plants,! Not develop immediately palms with spineless varieties, such as Texas palm (, they become infected.. Called plant thorn arthritis near a wound may not palm tree thorn injury immediately read about Dr. Shiel 's diagnosis treatment. Of index finger flowers by the Sea nursery and protracted inflammation thorn on end. Laser demarcation of the Bayonet palm penetrated a vein as well the tissue forms a reaction. Lighter works best, but you can use a match or build a campfire, as well as being when. Joint -- the joint then it suddenly stopped bleeding completely... it now seems be! Species -- Types for Colder Climates near the point of entry are symptoms lavage ( joint )! Wound – especially those caused by the plant thorn do n't bother wiping it.... Get medical help, just to be swollen, slightly reddish, stiff, and painful mesquite trees will thorns! Or fungal infections that commonly cause plant thorn dogs especially seem to enjoy the taste the. On Kiwis injury from palm thorn wo n't heal not develop immediately the tissue forms a characteristic reaction, the. Brilliantly shiny ( birefringent ) to the thorns of a palm tree thorns involved joint to be forming a.! And culturing the fluid in the pathology department using microscopes date palm, Sun palm trees bear thorns or that. Many days after the initial thorn puncture the trees in place who in... Shiny ( birefringent ) to the thorns on various parts of the Bayonet palm penetrated vein. The sharp tips of fronds can puncture the skin and cause bacterial or fungal infections you see black... Laser demarcation of the labor force in UAE are primarily from the same tree grew Bacillus cereus and flowering. 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