Phoenix Date Palm Injuries: A Review of Injuries From the Phoenix Date Palm Treated at the Starship Children’s Hospital

Abstract

Phoenix date palm injuries often have a protracted course. The initial diagnosis and treatment of such injuries is often delayed. Fracturing and fragmentation of the barbs may occur and multiple surgical procedures may be required to remove all of the foreign material. The Phoenix date palm barbs may cause a severe tissue reaction with sterile granulomatous synovitis and bony pseudotumour formation. A high level of suspicion on history taking and surgical exploration is needed. Total synovectomy for delayed joint or tendon sheath involvement may be required when fragmentation has occurred. Ultrasound has higher sensitivity for detection of thorn foreign bodies than magnetic resonance imaging.

Non‐native palms (Arecaceae) as generators of novel ecosystems: A global assessment

“…In one case, naturalized palms were suggested to provide ecosystem services including food, fibres and wood to local communities (de Grenade, 2013). One palm species was reported as posing a risk to human health (albeit likely a small one): The barbs on the leaf bases of P. canariensis can cause injuries that often have a protracted course and multiple surgical procedures may be required to remove all of the foreign material (Adams, Timms, & Hanlon, 2000). Further, the pollen of the same species has been reported to cause asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis (Blanco et al., 1995).…”

Date Palm Thorn Injury: A Literature Review and a Case Study of Extensive Hand Haematoma

“…The sharpness of date thorns means that the injuries can involve the bone in certain cases, resulting in a nonspecific granuloma as a reaction to the foreign body [4,7]. Rarely, the piece of thorn within the bone is surrounded by a fibrotic capsule and is characterised by an osteolytic reaction that can appear as a pseudotumour upon imaging, which makes a diagnosis more challenging [1].…”

“…Plain X-ray films cannot show the thorn pieces as they are radiolucent, but they help detect bone and joint changes, such as effusion and a periosteal reaction, which can be late presentations of this disease [3]. Ultrasound is more helpful in localising the thorn particles and soft tissue changes but requires a skilled operator [4]. Computerised tomography has greater sensitivity in identifying foreign particles, such as thorn pieces, than magnetic resonance imaging; however, the latter is more useful in detecting associated inflammation in the soft tissue [5].…”

Bugs, ants, wasps, moths and other insect species.

“…Plant thorn injuries in joints and tendon sheaths produce a severe, protracted sterile granulomatous inflammation termed 'plant thorn synovitis'. When the injury is adjacent to bone, the inflammatory response can lead to 'pseudotumour' formation (Adams et al, 2000;Lozano-Moreno, 2005). Pathogenic bacteria like Clostridium perfringens, the causative agent of the life-threatening gas gangrene, and others, were isolated and identified from date palm by Halpern et al (2007).…”