Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

A 29 year-old lady attended the Accident and Emergency Department of a District General Hospital complaining of increasing black discoloration of the tip of her left middle finger; the appearance resembled that of gangrene. However, it was established that she had been applying silver nitrate to her finger, as prescribed by her general practitioner for the treatment of a small granuloma. Hence, the true diagnosis was of localised tissue necrosis, secondary to application of the silver nitrate sticks. On early discontinuation of the therapy, there was complete recovery. In consequence, it is recommended that the practice of unsupervised local application of silver nitrate to the fingers should be discontinued. Opportunity is taken herein to review the uses of silver nitrate in clinical situations - and of silver in any of its many other forms - together with their respective adverse effects.

Keywords

Adverse effects argyria finger discoloration silver silver nitrate

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bhargava K.B. , Shirali G.N. , Abhyankar U.S. and Gadre K.C. (1992). Treatment of allergic and vasomotor rhinitis by the local application of different concentrations of silver nitrate. J Laryngology and Otology; 106(8), 699-701

Chamberlain J.M. , Gorman R.L. and Young G.M. (1992). Silver nitrate burns following treatment for umbilical granuloma. Pediatric Emergency Care; 8(1), 29-30

Christiansen T. (1969). A new hip prosthesis with trunnion-bearing. Acta chir scand; 135: 43-46

Dawber R P R and Walker N P J (1992). Physical and surgical therapy. In: Textbook of Dermatology, Chapter 77, 3108-3109 R H Champion, J L Burton and F J G Ebling, eds). Blackwell Scientific Publications

Dawber R P R , Ebling F J G and Wojnarowska F.T. (1992). Disorders of hair. In: Textbook of Dermatology, Chapter 63, 2629-2630 R H Champion, J L Burton and F J G Ebling, eds). Blackwell Scientific Publications

Dickinson P.H. and Chamberlain J. (1988). Vascular disorders of the neck and upper limb . In: Essential Surgical Practice, Chapter 52, 744-746 A Cuschieri, G R Giles and A R Moosa, eds). Wright

Griffiths W A D and Wilkinson J.D. (1992). Topical therapy. In: Textbook of Dermatology, Chapter 75 , 3052-3053 R H Champion, J L Burton and F J G Ebling, eds). Blackwell Scientific Publications

Laughrea P.A. , Arentsen J.J. and Laibson P.R. (1985). Iatrogenic ocular silver nitrate burn. Cornea; 4(1), 47-50

Lee S.M. and Lee S.H. (1994). Generalised argyria after habitual use of silver nitrate. J Dermatology; 21(1),50-53

10.

Lundeberg T. (1986). Prevention of catheter-associated urinary-tract infections by

11.

use of silver-impregnated catheters. Lancet ; ii, 1031

12.

Payne C M E R (1992). Argyria from excessive use of topical silver sulphadiazine . Lancet; 340, 126

13.

Reynolds J E F (1993). Silver nitrate. Supplementary drugs and other substances. In: Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 1411-1412, Thirtieth Edition J E F Reynolds, editor). The Pharmaceutical Press

14.

Ruddy J. , Proops D.W. , Pearman K. and Ruddy H. (1991). Management of epistaxis in children. Int J Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology; 21(2), 139-142

15.

Vijan S.R. , Keating M.A. , Althausen A.F. (1988). Ureteral stenosis after silver nitrate instillation in the treatment of essential hematuria. J Urology ; 139(5), 1015-1016

16.

Westhofen M. and Schafer H. (1986). Generalised argyrosis in man: neurotological, ultrastructural and X-ray microanalytical findings. Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology; 243(4), 260-264

17.

Yazar S. and Basaran E. (1994). Efficacy of silver nitrate pencils in the treatment of common warts. J Dermatology; 21(5), 329-333

18.

Yuce K. , Zeyneloglu H.B. , Bukul-Mez O. and Kisnisci H.A. (1994). Outpatient management of Bartholin gland abscesses and cysts with silver nitrate. Australian and New Zealand J Obstetrics and Gynaecology; 34(1), 93-96

19.

Zanoni D. , Isenberg S.J. and Apt L. (1992). A comparison of silver nitrate with erthromycin for prophylaxis against ophthalmia neonatorum. Clinical Pediatrics; 31(6), 295-298

Lessons to be learned: a case study approach Finger discoloration due to silver nitrate exposure

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References