Fishhook Removal

Presentation

The patient has been snagged with a fishhook and arrives with it embedded in the skin ( Fig. 137.1 ). This most commonly occurs on the hand, face, scalp, or upper extremity but can involve any body part. Removal of the fishhook is often the sole procedure necessary, except when the injury involves the eye.

Fishhooks have between one and four barbed prongs ( Fig. 137.2 ). By design, they embed into tissue but are not easily removed in retrograde fashion.