In addition to the well-known toxicological harms of intravenous drug (IVD) use, there can also be local tissue complications, including infections, venous sclerosis, tissue necrosis, and drug needle fragment retentions. Drug needle fragments in subcutaneous tissue may cause local symptoms (usually pain and infections), but they have also been identified as causing emboli to organs. The literature has described numerous case reports of people who inject drugs (PWIDs) and have retained needle fragments. The prevalence of the condition is not known, and the researchers therefore aim to perform the first cross-sectional study of PWIDs to estimate how common needle fragment retentions are and what their risk factors are in this population.
History of intravenous drug use
Current treatment of the drug abuse problem at a local low-threshold drug abuse service unit or primary health care centre.
Adherence to fill in the questionnaire
Participation to X-ray imaging of injection sites
No history of intravenous drug use
Does not adhere to fill in the questionnaire or refuses X-ray imaging
Pregnancy
Underage (18 years old)
Tampere University Hospital
Lead sponsor
Deaconess Foundation
Collaborator
A-Clinic Foundation
Collaborator