What specific severe complication involves inflammation of the synovium from a lodged thorn fragment?
Plant thorn synovitis
Plant thorn synovitis is the specific medical condition that arises when a thorn fragment, typically from woody material, lodges deep within sensitive structures like joints or tendon sheaths. Synovitis is defined as the inflammation of the synovium, which is the delicate membrane responsible for lubricating these structures. When the body detects this retained foreign material within the joint space, it initiates a strong inflammatory response aimed at encapsulating or expelling the irritant. While this reaction is often initially sterile (non-infected), it causes significant localized symptoms, including intense throbbing pain, marked swelling, localized warmth, and severely restricted range of motion, especially in small joints like those in the hands or feet.
