Finger injury from over-exposure to an industrial gamma radiation source.

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to report a rare cause of radionecrosis and its long-term results. Iridium-192 ((192)Ir) is commonly used for radiography as a gamma ray source to locate flaws in welds and metal components in gas and oil industry. A 38-year-old man was subjected to radiation unintentionally. One month after the exposure wounds were appeared on the second and third fingers, and they were treated by conventional wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. However wounds were relapsed one year later that brought the patient to us. The wounds were treated by wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. When the patient was brought to us one year later the result was interesting. The third finger's pulp (there was not any wound one year before) was contracted and one third of the distal phalanx was exposed.