Splinter

A splinter is a fragment of a larger object, animal spine, or any foreign body penetrating or purposefully injected into one’s body. The foreign body must be within a tissue for a notable amount of time to be considered a splinter. Splinters may cause initial pain through ripping of flesh and muscle, infection through bacteria on the foreign object, and severe internal damage through migration to vital organs or bone over time.

When most people usually think of a splinter, they usually think of wood. There are many types of common splinters other than wood. According to American Association of Family Practitioners (AAFP) common types of splinters are glass, plastic, metal, and spines of animals.