Fishhook Removal
- There are numerous fishhook removal techniques available. The choice of technique should be based on location of injury and type of hook.
- Eye protection is required as hooks are often removed with high velocity.
- Cleanse the site before removal is attempted.
- Superficially embedded hooks may not require a local anesthetic if they can be removed with the retrograde or string-yank methods.
- More invasive techniques (needle cover, advance and cut) will require a local anesthetic or nerve block.
- The retrograde and string-yank techniques should be attempted first as they result in the least amount of tissue trauma.
- Multiple techniques might be required before the fishhook is successfully removed.
- Irrigate the site with normal saline after removal to flush away debris such as bait.
