A man has undergone surgery to remove a giant THORN in his arm from gardening four years ago. The two inch monstrosity was thought to have...
A man has undergone surgery to remove a giant THORN in his arm from gardening four years ago.
The two inch monstrosity was thought to have been from a palm tree that Alex Maglione, from Tampa, Florida, had been tending years previously.
The 45-year-old had noticed his arm had been getting sore, but believed he had broken a tendon in his forearm.
But as the pain became unbearable four years later, doctors were shocked to discover the sharp thorn had been edging closer to a vital artery, missing it by only a few millimeters.
Alex Maglione, 45, from Tampa, Florida, has undergone surgery to remove a giant THORN in his arm from gardening four years ago
The two inch monstrosity (left) was thought to have been from a palm tree that Alex had been tending years previously. Pictured right: his surgery scar
Alex, who enjoys mountain biking, is no stranger to injuries thanks to his extensive hobbies and not wanting to fork out for surgery, hoped his injury would heal over time.
Yet at the end of last month, he noticed a small puncture wound on his left arm becoming infected, but never dreamed it would be connected to the tree he'd tended years ago.
Alex said: 'For the last four years, I thought I had broken a tendon on my left forearm.
'I'd put off seeing the doctor as the pain had started out being tolerable and I'd had injuries before.
'In my spare time, I'm always busy with my dog Maggie, going on adventures where we jet ski, swim, kayak and ride my mountain bike.
Doctors were shocked to discover the sharp thorn had been edging closer to a vital artery, missing it by only a few millimeters. Surgeons was forced to hold the skin open with forceps whilst the thorn was carefully removed in one piece
'I never thought my most painful injury would be thanks to a tree.
'Yet when I went riding, the pain was worse than ever, truly horrific.
'When I saw the thorn, I knew immediately where I'd last seen them and been near them.
'My ex-wife used to asked me to tend to the trees at the front of our house, and they grew the exact same ones - but it had been four years since I'd last done it.'
Alex, after finally deciding to pay the doctor a visit, underwent a sonogram where he initially struggled to believe what the doctor was telling him.
Alex added: 'My doctor said to me that he was sure there was some form of foreign object in there.
Alex's doctor made the decision to perform surgery last Friday (October 30) as the wound had become infected - with the potential to develop into sepsis
Alex's arm is finally on the road to recovery and Alex himself keen to get on his bike once more
'I couldn't imagine what it was. There had been no entry point, no intrusion on the skin that looked like a puncture wound.
'It had just been sore, with the pain becoming gradually worse over the years.
'It had become horrific, the worst pain I'd ever felt - so when the doctor had to make an incision, it was like a scratch.'
Alex's doctor made the decision to perform surgery last Friday (October 30) as the wound had become infected - with the potential to develop into sepsis.
Surgeons was forced to hold the skin open with forceps whilst the thorn was carefully removed in one piece.
Needing six stitches, Alex's arm is finally on the road to recovery and Alex himself keen to get on his bike once more.
Alex said: 'I was amazed at the size of the thing. It must have shot into my arm like a needle.
'Dr John D. Hand was amazing, the best surgeon I've ever had. I just couldn't believe it had been in there so longer, without causing more damage.'
No comments