Fishing Out the Fish Hook

​Outdoor recreation has exploded since we all began social distancing for COVID-19, and EDs are seeing more camping and home improvement injuries from table saws, crafting projects, and even canning (burns). Boating and motorcycle accidents also seem to be on the rise. Many fisherfolk will be on and in the water using hooks, barbs, lines, and wires. Many of these anglers will arrive with a hook in the arm, hand, or scalp, unable to remove the hook themselves. In fact, their own attempts to remove the hooks may make matters worse. Fish hook injuries may seem simple at first, but can quickly get complicated, depending on the site of injury and type of hook.The single-barb triple fish hook, left. Single fish hook in a patient's right earlobe. Left photo by Creative Commons, right photo by Martha Roberts.The fish hook was named one of the top 20 tools in history by Forbes in 2005. (https://bit.ly/31d8vO3.) These prehistoric tools have helped millions of people survive for centuries. The first primitive hooks were made from shells, bones, and sticks, but today's hooks may contain several barbs embedded within fancy and flashy lures. Fish and three barbs at the end. Other materials include high-carbon or stainless steel, and they are coated with lacquer, gold, nickel, or even Teflon in a variety of colors. The type of hook will vary, depending on the type of angler. Fish hooks can also be loaded with live or artificial bait, as well as chemicals that help attract the fish.The...
Source: The Procedural Pause - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs