Use New Pins for Each Neurologic Examination

To the Editor: The use of a pin in the examination of the nervous system is routine practice. House officers frequently clasp a safety pin conveniently to their white coats. Neurologists and neurosurgeons often elevate this custom by employing ornate pins that may be stuck through the lapel. Many physicians use the same pin from patient to patient. During stimulation of cutaneous pain receptors, the pin may pierce the epidermis and enter the dermis, which contains many blood vessels. A small amount of bleeding commonly occurs after an examination. Consequently, the pin becomes a potential vehicle for inadvertent exposure of….