Penfine needles breaking off in arm

[AlanaBurton]

Hi all,

Has anyone had any problems or know of anyone who has had a Penfine needle break off?

My mother has not long been diagnosed with diabetes and has been using the Penfine for a few months and 2 weeks ago the needle broke off in her arm and embedded in her muscle. She then had to have an operation to remove it as the doctors said it could move and puncture something.

Is this a common problem or is this quite rare?

Thanks,

[jshuffle]

If she injects straight in and out, there shouldn't be any possibility of breaking off. It seems a little far-fetched, especially because she's been injecting so long, but could she have a defective lot of needles?

What gauge of needles is she using?

[Subby]

Ouch! I hope she is well. This is a bit of a nightmare to me, with infusion set needles at least...

This is probably the first time I've heard of a needle snapping off without a clear reason (some large force causing it). It might occur, but is definitely not common at all. The first question that comes to my mind is, what was it doing in muscle anyway? Insulin is typically meant to be delivered into fat, it's important to be arriving there and not muscle or vein...

That in itself, suggests she should definitely keep away from her arms, inject where there is an obvious layer of fat. As for the needle, unless there was a lot of force being applied externally, it just seems bizarre to have snapped. When out and about, I often bend my needles over to signify to myself I've used one, and recap with the needle folded down. Even bending them right around on themselves, I have never had one snap. We are talking thousands of syringes I would have done that.

[DeusXM]

I may be reading this wrong:

My mother has not long been diagnosed with diabetes and has been using the Penfine for a few months

She has been changing the needle regularly, right? I may be reading this wrong but the way this is phrased sounds like she has been using the same needle for some time. Sorry if that's not what you meant.

With respect to causes of breakage - Penfine needles are relatively tough BUT they can be snapped off by a medium amount of force, especially if they're being reused. There's also questions of injection technique - the needle MUST enter the subcutaneous fat at 90 degrees to the skin (no diagonal injections) otherwise the blunt part of the needle makes contact first and transfers the impact shock to the needle rather than to the skin.

Also, if she is new to injecting, I have noticed that some people unused to injection, or people who are nervous, tend to shake a bit and also either push the needle very slowly against the skin (bad move, increases the risk of snapping if you move) or stab it like a knife in order to get it over and done with (bad move, more force = more strain on the needle).

These things do happen but in rare circumstances - I've snapped off a needle in my skin before, but it was a needle that I'd dropped once and had used for about a week (yes, I'm very careless). I was lucky in that it snapped off with a small portion still sticking out so I was actually able to pull it out quite easily with tweezers.

[Subby]

I may be reading this wrong but the way this is phrased sounds like she has been using the same needle for some time.

Ugh, I didnt even think of that possibility. I have used needles probably up to a week, but 3 months of the same needle.... yeouch. It could explain things.

[TommyC1]

I may be reading this wrong:



She has been changing the needle regularly, right? I may be reading this wrong but the way this is phrased sounds like she has been using the same needle for some time. Sorry if that's not what you meant.

With respect to causes of breakage - Penfine needles are relatively tough BUT they can be snapped off by a medium amount of force, especially if they're being reused. There's also questions of injection technique - the needle MUST enter the subcutaneous fat at 90 degrees to the skin (no diagonal injections) otherwise the blunt part of the needle makes contact first and transfers the impact shock to the needle rather than to the skin.

Also, if she is new to injecting, I have noticed that some people unused to injection, or people who are nervous, tend to shake a bit and also either push the needle very slowly against the skin (bad move, increases the risk of snapping if you move) or stab it like a knife in order to get it over and done with (bad move, more force = more strain on the needle).

These things do happen but in rare circumstances - I've snapped off a needle in my skin before, but it was a needle that I'd dropped once and had used for about a week (yes, I'm very careless). I was lucky in that it snapped off with a small portion still sticking out so I was actually able to pull it out quite easily with tweezers.


I use Novofine needles and generaly use one per pen. I put a new one on a new pen so they get used for a week or two.
When using my left hand (I'm a rightly) to inject into my right arm I can get a little sloppy. I have on occasion bent a needle.
I've never broken one.

[owlyn]

Hi all,

Has anyone had any problems or know of anyone who has had a Penfine needle break off?

My mother has not long been diagnosed with diabetes and has been using the Penfine for a few months and 2 weeks ago the needle broke off in her arm and embedded in her muscle. She then had to have an operation to remove it as the doctors said it could move and puncture something.

Is this a common problem or is this quite rare?

Thanks,


The arm is not the best place in which to inject. Stomach and thighs are much better.

[imac]

I too use novofine needles and i have bent them but have not had one break. But a use a new needle every day(needles are free in australia)

[Tattoo azz]

I nolonger inject into my arm, now i use my thighs and butt and occasionally my belly. I inject straight thru my jeans so i change needles quite often, never had one snap off and stay in my skin tho ouch!!