Fingertip Necrosis due to Chemical Burn from Glacial Acetic Acid: A Case Report

Abstract

Glacial acetic acid is a high-purity acetic acid that is mainly used as a solvent in chemical production and for various purposes in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is safe enough to be used for chemical peeling when diluted, and has been used in folk remedies for warts, athlete’s foot, and eczema. Indeed, such conditions are the most common reason for exposure to glacial acetic acid. In the present report, we describe the case of a 10-year-old girl who presented with pain and necrosis of the distal phalanx of her left index finger. Two days prior, her fingers had been wrapped overnight with a paste of flour mixed with glacial acetic acid to treat warts. We irrigated the affected area with normal saline, applied a mupirocin ointment, and administered prostaglandin E1. However, the necrosis progressed rapidly. After 10 days, the girl’s fingertip was amputated, and a hypothenar free flap was performed. The case represents a severe chemical burn resulting from the misuse of glacial acetic acid, requiring surgical treatment.