[wgt]

Hey, RR:

The articles themselves cannot be retrieved unless one has access to a medical library, whether physical or virtual. The hyperlinks to the journals got inserted without my notice. I just removed them and just left the references so that others don't waste time trying to surf directly to the documents. Sorry about that. For those interested, though, the references remain in case the opportunity to read the articles arises.

Your point about the unusual nature of the injury is more than telling. In fact, the circumstances surrounding the reports can be quite bizarre. If I remember correctly, one of the reported injuries involved a needlefish leaping from the water and striking a woman in the neck while she was boating, with the needle snapping off adjacent to her spinal cord. Strangely, she did not actually know for some time that the needle had been left behind, as neurological problems evolved slowly. A subsequent x-ray revealed the culprit.

For those developing a fear of needlefish, I assure you that nailgun injuries are a far more pervasive threat. Check out the x-ray of a guy who only complained of a toothache after operating a nailgun.