Splinters/Foreign Bodies

At our Downtown and Midtown foot clinics, our customized splinter and foreign body treatments are specifically designed to minimize pain and discomfort and help you avoid infection. Depending on the severity of your injury, our foot doctors can remove the splinter safely and quickly in the office and prescribe antibacterial ointment to ensure it heals quickly and without any undesirable side effects.

Description

A splinter is a shard of wood, plastic, metal, broken glass or any small object that can become stuck at the bottom of foot after accidentally stepping on it.

Symptoms

A splinter in the foot will cause pain and discomfort upon walking. You may even feel a sensation of something embedded under the skin.

Treatment Options

Splinter removal, local wound care, possible antibiotics if there is an infection.  While a small splinter can be removed at home, a large or deep splinter should be removed by a podiatrist. 

Treatment Options Description (with Duration)

If you've accidentally stepped on something and the foreign body is hard to get out, you need medical attention. Depending on how deep the foreign body is, your podiatrist will generally numb the area and remove the splinter safely in the office. If there is a wound on the bottom of the foot from the foreign body, you will need to keep the site clean and keep it covered with an antibiotic ointment and either a dressing or a bandaid, depending on the severity. If there are any signs of infection (redness, warmth, swelling, and oozing pus),  antibiotics will be required. 

Expected Outcome

Foreign bodies should be treated as soon as possible. If treatment is delayed, the foreign body can become deeper and/or the area may become infected. If treated early, the foreign body can be easily removed at the doctor's office and your chance of getting an infection can thus be reduced. 

We Help Relieve Your Pain Quickly 

If you are suffering from a wound caused by a foreign body or splinter, our New York foot doctors can help! Serving the Downtown and Midtown Manhattan areas of NYC, we help you get back to healthy and happy living. Call us at 917-398-3668 or book an appointment online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, if a foreign body is left inside the foot for too long the bacteria that was on the object can end up giving you an infection. Seeking medical attention quickly and getting any foreign object removed from your foot is imperative to good foot health.

Depending on the type of foreign body, many can be seen on x-ray but some need more advanced imaging such as MRI. If you know what you stepped on share that information with your doctor and they can select the appropriate imaging technique for you.

Yes. It is possible to have a very deep foreign body that has to be removed in the operating room. This is why it is important to seek medical treatment ASAP to not only avoid surgery, but also to reduce the chances of getting an infection.

YOU DON'T NEED TO LIVE WITH FOOT OR ANKLE PAIN ANY LONGER

Conveniently located in Upper East Side, Downtown and Midtown Manhattan, NYC, our experienced podiatrists and medical team of professionals are here to help. Call, text, or fill out the form below:

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