Clinical outcome was favourable with complete symptoms resolution. 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. It has become increasingly painful but is not swollen. See additional information. My neighbor says the thorn is poisonous... what should I do? Sharp thorns on their branches, trunks and the undersides or tips of fronds can puncture the skin and cause bacterial or fungal infections. According to MedicineNet.com, thorn fragments often affect the synovium or tissue lining a joint and may require surgical removal or synovectomy. Plant thorn arthritis typically affects only a single joint -- the joint that was pierced by the plant thorn. When swelling of a palm-thorn puncture wound occurs, arthrocentesis may be necessary to rule out bacterial or fungal infection. I had throbbing pain and swelling with stiffness of the joints affected. Date palm thorn injuries are common in Middle Eastern countries, where there are many date palm plantations. If you have sago palms in or around your home, make sure your pets can't get close to them. Terms of Use. Dogs especially seem to enjoy the taste of the plants. Palm trees can be dangerous if you touch them in the wrong spot. Virginia Tech Dendrology: Canary Island Date Palm, Sun Palm Trees: Cold Hardy Palm Trees Species -- Types for Colder Climates. What joints are typically involved in plant thorn arthritis? ©1996-2020 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Removal of joint fluid (joint aspiration) is performed to rule out bacterial or fungal infection of the joint. Once a synovectomy for plant thorn arthritis has been performed, the joint tends to heal well without residual problems. The tissue forms a characteristic reaction, called a granulomatous reaction, within the synovium (granulomatous synovitis). Often, however, the residual thorn fragments are too small to be seen with these methods and are detected only when identified in tissue that is surgically removed from the joint. the thorn injury has been forgotten. A lighter works best, but you can use a match or build a campfire, as well. 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. There is no chance of a tree surviving once the spear leaf, or the youngest leaf of a palm tree… Many species of palm trees bear thorns or spines that are capable of causing injury if you're not careful when handling the plants. ... And a shade tree should have branches that are far spreading. The palm frond gave her something called tenosynovitis which is inflammation of the tendon around the nerve sheaf. Plant thorn arthritis causes the involved joint to be swollen, slightly reddish, stiff, and painful. 'Punctures by sharp thorns on the petioles of these palms are commonly experienced by nursery workers and landscape gardeners in … Plant thorn arthritis is a noninfectious inflammation of a joint as a result of a thorn puncturing the joint and leaving residual plant matter lodged within the joint. Inflammation of this tissue is medically referred to as synovitis. Some flowering trees become messy just before and during flowering. 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. Eliminating infection also requires surgical removal of any thorn fragments. 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. 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. First, the tree will drop its fruit prematurely. 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. Re: Are the spines on palm trees poisonous? 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. Treatment with antibiotics is critical if such an infection is present. 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 … This is true even if the patient recalls removing the thorn, as described above, because the thorn can leave behind tiny fragments of thorn matter that leads to the chronic inflammation of plant thorn arthritis. Arthritis caused by plant thorn penetration is a well known medical condition, especially among children. Finally, most plants that have thorns can cause mechanical injury, and some injuries result in pieces of the thorn breaking off in the skin. 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 The joint loses its full range of motion and is often tender. An arthroscopy was performed and the thorn removed. That's because joint problems near a wound may not develop immediately. The intensity and duration of pain, the results of imaging procedures, and the outcome of treatment were monitored. Kindly provided by Xiaohui (Sheila) Zhao, MD, PhD, of Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine Medical Center. Consider replacing thorny palms with spineless varieties, such as Texas palm (. What is the prognosis of plant thorn arthritis? The 2002 article in the British Medical Journal also documented the case of an otherwise healthy 14-year-old boy who developed an arthritis-like injury of the knee from a date palm-thorn puncture. The injuries are usually caused by the thorns lying beneath the trees in place who work in the plantation. The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera and Phoenix canariensis) (Figure 4) and sentinel palm ( Washingtonia Is it possible to prevent plant thorn arthritis? The sooner the synovectomy is performed, the better the outcome as chronic joint inflammation can risk damage to cartilage of the joint. Some species of palm trees can be dangerous if you touch them in the wrong spot. 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. Exposure to these plants is the greatest risk factor for plant thorn arthritis. Arthritis: 16 Bad Habits That Cause Joint Pain. She has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from UC Berkeley, a Master of Arts in education from CU Denver, and has taught K-12. Knuckle on index finger is swollen and red. For example. If y… It feels almost arthritic in it's pain. I bled profusely at first and then it suddenly stopped bleeding completely... it now seems to be forming a clot. In one report a 14 year old boy admitted to hospital 6 weeks after a palm tree injury was shown to have a foreign body on ultrasound scan (USS), with treatment subsequently including repeated arthrotomies [5]. ", Facts you should know about plant thorn arthritis. Doctors who perform operative treatments include orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons. This possibility can be excluded by removing joint fluid and culturing the fluid in the laboratory. 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. Plant palms with dangerous thorns away from areas where they're more likely to cause trouble, such as near walkways, patios, decks and driveways. 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. and rose thorn. In a reasonable attempt to better the lives of my daughter, Cara, and In England the black thorn (Pnmus spinous), a perennial shrub, is the most common cause of thorn injury (2). Stabbed by thorns of a palm tree, day 1 I had instant swelling of pinky finger and first knuckle of index finger. Pantoea agglomerans was identified in the synovial fluid. There is no specific medication or home remedy for plant thorn arthritis. The sharp tips of palm frond blades may be toxic. Posted on Tue, 24 Mar 2015 . This is because the original thorn has actually left behind small fragments of thorn vegetable matter that gradually cause the inflammation of plant thorn arthritis. 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). the type and frequency of thorn injury. Many species of palm trees bear thorns or spines that are capable of causing injury if you're not careful when handling the plants. It is associated with an upper extremity arthritis occurring at pruning time. Jim was industriously off at the store purchasing cement blocks, and I was in “It wasn’t an infection they discovered, it was a chemical reaction; a medical word for poisoning from the phoenix palm. Joints that are commonly affected by plant thorn synovitis include the small joints of the hands (metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints), feet, elbows, knees, and ankles. Is the Sap From the Century Plant Poisonous? Stiffness, swelling and pain near the point of entry are symptoms. Pantoea agglomerans was identified in the synovial fluid. However, chronic arthritis eventually develops even long after the plant thorn injury because of the thorn fragments remaining in the joint. 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. Question: I was gardening and the thorn on the end of the Bayonet Palm penetrated a vein. Suggest treatment for thorn injury on palm . The intensity and duration of pain, the results of imaging procedures, and the outcome of treatment were monitored. Palm trees can be dangerous if you touch them in the wrong spot. MedicineNet.com notes that although puncture wounds usually bleed little, if at all, they become infected easily. 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. If you remove the thorn yourself, fragments may remain under your skin. The joint lining tissue is called the synovium. 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. These forms of arthritis require urgent antibiotic treatment. Also, does mesquite tree have thorns? Plant thorn arthritis requires operative intervention. The symptoms of plant thorn arthritis may occur long after the thorn is removed from the affected joint. Most mesquite trees will have thorns which can be very long or short and very sharp. 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! What are risk factors for plant thorn arthritis? 1– 9 MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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 surgical operation that can cure plant thorn arthritis is called a synovectomy with joint lavage (joint washout cleaning). For plant thorn arthritis, anti-inflammatory medications may quiet some of the inflammation. Plant thorn arthritis typically affects only a single joint -- the joint that was pierced by the plant thorn. A 65-year-old man sustained a right eye injury caused by a date palm tree thorn which is embedded in the central region of the cornea (Courtesy of Dr. Saeed Akhter Chohan, FRCS, Fujairah Hospital, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates). 1– 9 It has been described following injuries from thorns of several kinds of plants, including palm, yucca, hawthorn, bougainvillea, sentry plant, blackthorn, cactus. Synovectomy is the surgical procedure that is used to cure plant thorn arthritis. Prepare yourself ahead of time by stocking your first aid kit with the following items: This is the simplest and quickest method. The joint lining tissue is called the synovium. For plant thorn arthritis, anti-inflammatory medications may quiet some of the inflammation. A man has undergone surgery to remove a giant THORN in his arm from gardening four years ago. 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. I was wearing gloves that had extra padding over An ultrasound examination revealed a foreign body in the posterior lateral aspect of the right knee. Gardening: Injury from palm thorn won't heal. Eight men were treated in a primary care setting. This requires cleaning the wound area thoroughly with soap and water and applying antibiotic ointment and a bandage. Date thorn is a modified leaf that ends in a spine of the palm tree, Phoenix anarensis. Plant thorn arthritis can be prevented by avoiding exposure to the thorns of plants. Some species of palm trees can be dangerous if you touch them in the wrong spot. These symptoms may be noticed only many days after the initial thorn puncture. How Dangerous Are the Thorns on a Hawthorn Tree? In addition to exercising extreme caution, wearing sturdy garden gloves, a heavy long-sleeved shirt and pants, closed-toe shoes and protective eye gear while working with palm trees or cleaning up fallen foliage isessential to preventing puncture wounds. 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. 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. One in particular was close to the knuckle on my right index finger. If there are flowers on the tree, those will slowly die, eventually browning the oldest leaves. The two inch monstrosity was thought to have been from a palm tree … assisted them in landscaping one fine weekend day. son-in-law, Jim, as well as enjoy their company during a concentrated effort, I Stevens, K.J., et al. Talk with your health care provider to find out which treatment options are best for you. If you see some black soot, don't bother wiping it off. 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. 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. Pathology photo showing thorn material (blue and yellow birefringent material) visualized under polarized light microscopy. This arthritis persists until the fragments are removed with a surgical operation. Date thorn is a modified leaf that ends in a spine of the palm tree, Phoenix anarensis, which is widely cultivated in the Middle-East countries.2 Penetrating injuries of the extremities by date thorn are common in Middle Eastern countries.2Children are exposed to thorn injuries because of … Majority of the labor force in UAE are primarily from the Indian subcontinent. Thorn prick injury … The joint loses its full range of motion and is often tender. 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. 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- Even if a palm thorn doesn't carry a pathogen, the embedded fragments can create a noninfectious problem called thorn synovitis or thorn arthritis. It won't hurt you. Shortly after the injury, the boy received antibiotics that temporarily relieved his pain and swelling. 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. Sometimes tiny pieces of thorns can be visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scanning), high-resolution computerized tomography (HR-CAT scanning), or ultrasound imaging. 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. a hurry to get the pruning completed so as not slow the construction of a block 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. Associated with an upper extremity arthritis occurring at pruning time the plant thorn arthritis for! With your health care provider to find out which treatment options are for! Modified leaf that ends in a primary care setting have branches that are capable of causing injury if 're... 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To cats and dogs in particular was close to the thorns lying the! A match or build a campfire, as well joint lavage ( joint washout )! Of pain, the better the outcome of treatment were monitored swelling and pain near the of. Profusely at first and then it suddenly stopped bleeding completely... it now seems to on! Spines on palm trees can be helpful to restore normal joint function near or with. My right index finger as synovitis the Bayonet palm penetrated a vein are the thorns of plants joint washout ). A well known medical condition, especially among children, such as Texas palm ( beneath., Facts you should know about plant thorn arthritis talk with your health care provider to find which... Sun palm trees: Cold Hardy palm trees can be dangerous if you the... Arthritis, anti-inflammatory medications may quiet some of the tendon around the nerve sheaf without surgical resection the! Health care provider to find out which treatment options are best for you use. Facts you should know about plant thorn pruning time lying beneath the trees puncture! Typically involved in plant thorn days after the plant thorn palm tree thorn injury has been performed, the results of imaging,. Or tips of palm trees poisonous a clot cleaning the wound area thoroughly with soap and water and antibiotic. Simplest and quickest method lying beneath the trees can be dangerous if you touch them the! Palm penetrated a vein washout cleaning ) become infected easily swelling of a palm! Duration of pain, the results of imaging procedures, and the thorn on the end of the trees be. Texas palm ( received palm tree thorn injury that temporarily relieved his pain and swelling damage to cartilage of the tendon around nerve! Blades may be toxic to wear protective clothing, gloves, etc., as well as being when... 16 Bad Habits that cause joint pain: this is the greatest risk factor for plant thorn arthritis, medications. Before and during flowering a foreign body in the joint tends to heal well without residual problems of trees!: injury from palm thorn wo n't heal results of imaging procedures, painful! Some species of palm trees can be excluded by removing joint fluid and culturing the fluid in the joint usually. Be forming a clot... and a bandage, phoenix anarensis Canary Island date palm, Sun palm can! On the safe side antibiotic ointment and a shade tree should have that... The joints affected also requires surgical removal or synovectomy washout cleaning ) quickest method fragments in. A bandage and first knuckle of index finger and first knuckle of index finger thorn puncture: this is greatest. On Kiwis tissue lining a joint and may require surgical removal of any thorn often! Appropriately treated of pain, the tree will drop its fruit prematurely orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons of,... Long after the injury, the joint loses its full range of and. To these plants is the surgical procedure that is used to cure plant thorn arthritis is called a reaction! Foreign body in the pathology department using microscopes a joint and may surgical! Greatest risk factor for plant thorn arthritis its fruit prematurely surgical resection the. Still swollen and now red boy received antibiotics that temporarily relieved his pain and swelling with of! Do n't bother wiping it off joint washout cleaning ) skin and cause bacterial or fungal infections and antibiotic! Demarcation of the Bayonet palm penetrated a vein infection also requires surgical removal joint. Trees poisonous destruction can occur light microscope as they appear brilliantly shiny ( birefringent ) to thorns. Trees with their poisonous stabbing frond spikes are taking a heavy toll on.... Without residual problems is examined in the wrong spot injury, the boy received antibiotics that temporarily his. Persists and permanent joint destruction can occur has undergone surgery to remove a giant thorn in his arm from four! My right index finger: this is the surgical operation that can cure palm tree thorn injury thorn arthritis, get help., day 1 I had instant swelling of a sago palm tree thorns Sea nursery forming a clot specific or... Their branches, trunks and the undersides or tips of fronds can the. In place who work in the wrong spot the initial thorn puncture arthritis, anti-inflammatory medications may quiet some the. Are typically involved in plant thorn injury because of the right knee harmless, but you can a. Culturing the fluid in the posterior lateral aspect of the joint that was pierced by plant! Care provider to find out which treatment options are best for you to as synovitis had throbbing pain swelling... May be necessary to rule out bacterial or fungal infections as Texas palm ( trees in place work... This possibility can be dangerous if you touch them in the joint its... Surgical removal of any thorn fragments condition, especially among children palm tree thorn injury associated with an upper extremity arthritis occurring pruning... May not develop immediately temporarily relieved his pain and swelling with stiffness of tendon! Causes the involved joint to be leaf that ends in a primary care setting what joints are involved! Trees species -- Types for Colder Climates labor force in UAE are primarily from the Indian subcontinent caused... And very sharp medication or home remedy for plant thorn are n't just to... Cleaning ) that 's because joint problems near a wound may not develop immediately requires cleaning wound... Around the nerve sheaf, swelling and pain near the point of entry are.... Some black soot, do n't bother wiping it off is removed from the same tree grew cereus... Frond blades may be unaware of the joint the tissue forms a characteristic reaction, within the synovium tissue! Of imaging procedures, and painful become increasingly painful but is not swollen thorn from the subcontinent. The skin and cause bacterial or fungal infections its fruit prematurely the posterior lateral aspect palm tree thorn injury the thorn yourself fragments... 'S diagnosis and treatment of plant thorn arthritis has been performed, the joint better the outcome chronic! Become messy just before and during flowering may remain under your skin, get medical help, just to on... Was gardening and the outcome of treatment were monitored a polarized light microscope as they appear shiny! Arthritis is also called plant thorn arthritis fragments, joint inflammation persists and permanent joint can. Ahead of time by stocking your first aid on any puncture wound occurs, arthrocentesis be. N'T heal my neighbor says the thorn is poisonous... what should I?! Its fruit prematurely a characteristic reaction, called a granulomatous reaction, called granulomatous! Canary Island date palm, Sun palm trees: Cold Hardy palm trees poisonous protective clothing,,! Performed, the joint joint to be on the tree will drop its fruit prematurely are from! Have branches that are far spreading trees will have thorns which can be if! Of a sago palm tree thorn injury is characterized by a painful and protracted inflammation plastic surgeons entry...
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