Plastic Surgery for Hand Infections 

Most hand infections are bacterial and are the result of minor wounds that have been neglected. Human bite wounds are the second most common cause of hand infections. Hematogenous spread of infection from other sites to the hand is rare but can occur.

A complete history and physical examination is necessary to exclude other associated medical conditions (eg, diabetes, arthritis, immunosuppression^[1] ) that may compromise therapy. The history should ascertain the mechanism of injury, as this may provide some clues about the organism(s) most likely responsible for the infection. Radiographic evaluation may be indicated if the history and physical examination suggest a possibility of fracture, osteomyelitis, or foreign body.

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for most instances of hand infection, followed by Streptococcus viridans and beta-hemolytic streptococci. Anaerobes are common in instances of intravenous (IV) drug abuse, in patients with diabetes, and in bite wounds. Eikenella corrodens, an anaerobic gram-negative rod, is part of the normal human oral flora and is recovered in many human bite wounds in the hand. Pasteurella multocida, a facultative gram-negative anaerobe, is recovered from many cat and dog bites. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for a small percentage of acute and chronic hand infections. Mycobacterium marinum is found in warm water environments and is responsible for some infections in people who come in contact with marine life, boating equipment, piers, fish tanks, and swimming pools.

Other bacteria that have been cultured from hand wounds include enterococci, Neisseria gonorrhoeae,Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis. Gram-negative organisms are frequently cultured in patients with diabetes and in those who abuse intravenous drugs. Most cultures from hand infections show multiple organisms.

In most cases, the diagnosis of infection is made on clinical grounds. Diagnostic studies are frequently necessary to support the diagnosis. If the diagnosis is in doubt, diagnostic studies may be of benefit.

The following studies may be performed:

• Complete blood count (CBC) may reveal leukocytosis with left shift.
• Serum glucose levels may be helpful, particularly in patients with diabetes.
• Plain radiographs may be helpful to rule out fractures, foreign bodies, and osteomyelitis. The presence of gas on radiographs suggests the presence of gas-forming organisms, such Clostridium perfringens.
• In the presence of obvious purulent drainage, perform wound cultures. In suspected septic arthritis, joint aspiration helps confirm the diagnosis and identify the organisms involved. Use caution in aspiration of joints through infected tissues, as this may result in inoculation of the joint space with organisms.
• Ultrasonography may help confirm the clinical suspicion of abscess, septic arthritis, or pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis.
• CT scan, MRI, and bone scan may be used to diagnose osteomyelitis.
• Tzanck smear is useful when the diagnosis of viral infection is suspected in the presence of a blister that has not resolved spontaneously.

Paronychia

Paronychia is the most common type of hand infection. It is characterized by erythema, tenderness, and swelling of the nail fold ("paronychia" means "around the nail"). Purulent drainage from the nail fold may occur in advanced cases. S aureus is cultured most frequently from the drainage.

In the early stages, administration of antibiotics may abort the development of an abscess. If an abscess is present, it can be drained by elevating the eponychial fold from the base of the nail, irrigating with saline, and packing the fold with gauze. The packing is removed 24 hours later. For a detailed and illustrated description of this drainage, see eMedicine article Hand, Paronychia Drainage.

Occasionally, paronychia may persist at a subacute level despite adequate drainage and antibiotic therapy. In most cases, Candida albicans is responsible for chronic paronychia. It is most frequently encountered in people whose hands are constantly moist, such as dishwashers. Remaining occurrences may be caused by an immunosuppressed state (eg, diabetes, AIDS), foreign body (eg, splinter), or vascular insufficiency (eg, diabetes). A case of paronychia in the thumb that resolved after the patient discontinued use of his personal digital assistant (PDA) was recently reported.^[2]

Cellulitis

Cellulitis presents with rubor (redness), dolor (pain), calor (warmth/heat), and functio laesa (loss of function). Lymphangitis characterized by red streaks up the arm may develop. In more advanced cases, epitrochlear and/or axillary lymphadenopathy may be present. Beta-hemolytic streptococci and S aureus are the usual pathogens.

Felon

A felon is an infection of the soft tissues at the volar pad of the terminal phalanx. The soft tissue of the fingertips is divided into multiple compartments by vertical fibrous septa extending from the dermis to the distal phalanx. Infections in this area thus mimic a compartment-like syndrome. A hot, red digital pulp implies the presence of pus and should be drained even before the pus is apparent. These septa must be ruptured to adequately drain the felon.

Most felons are the result of a relatively innocuous puncture wound, such as a needle stick, in patients with diabetes. The history and examination should include a search for a foreign body, which can occasionally be detected radiographically. S aureus, streptococci, and anaerobes are responsible for most felons. Gram-negative organisms have also been reported, especially in immunosuppressed patients.

Bite wounds

Bite wounds to the hand may cause cellulitis and abscess. Human bite wounds are particularly virulent because of the gram-positive and anaerobic bacteria present in the mouth. They are frequently the result of punching an opponent in the mouth, with the teeth causing the laceration. Frequently, the tooth penetrates the metacarpophalangeal joint, where the cartilage is particularly sensitive to infection. Every puncture wound near the proximal knuckle must be treated aggressively with exploration, irrigation, antibiotics, and drainage. Human saliva contains more than 10⁹ bacteria per milliliter. The risk of infection is, therefore, great. Because of this risk, human bite wounds to the hand should usually not be closed.^[3]

The infection progresses rapidly, with swelling, tenderness, and erythema presenting within 24 hours of the injury. The cellulitis usually progresses to an abscess if untreated. In the evaluation, wound cultures and radiographs should be obtained to exclude fractures or foreign bodies (eg, teeth).

Bites from cats and dogs are much less likely than human bites to result in infection. Cat bites are less frequent than dog bites but are more likely to cause infection. Animal bite wounds can be closed loosely after debriding the wound edges, provided that they are seen early, thoroughly irrigated, and followed very closely, and that oral antibiotics are administered. Advanced cases require intravenous antibiotics.

Web space infections

A web space abscess may develop from an infected callus on the volar side of the distal palm. The abscess may spread to the dorsal aspect of the space, resulting in a "collar button" abscess.

Midpalmar space infection

The midpalmar space is a potential space between the middle, ring, and small finger flexor tendons and volar interosseous muscles. It extends from the hypothenar muscles ulnarly to the midpalmar septum radially. The accumulation of pus converts this potential space into a true space. The infection usually results from direct open trauma, or it may spread from a pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis. S aureus and streptococci are cultured most frequently.

Radial to the midpalmar septum is the thenar space, which is also a potential space. This space is volar to the adductor pollicis muscle over the second and third metacarpals. It also can be expanded by the accumulation of pus, which is characterized by painful swelling in the thenar space and passive abduction of the thumb. The hypothenar space is a potential space within the fascia of the hypothenar muscles. Infection within this space is rare. It manifests as tenderness and swelling over the hypothenar region.

Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis

The flexor tendon sheaths begin at the level of the metacarpal neck and extend to the level of the distal interphalangeal joints. An infection of the flexor sheath presents with the following 4 classic signs described by Allen B Kanavel in 1912:

1. Symmetric swelling of the entire digit
2. Tenderness directly over the tendon sheath
3. Finger held semi-flexed
4. Exquisite tenderness on passive extension of the digit

When the diagnosis is in doubt, ultrasonography or aspiration of the flexor sheath may help in determining the diagnosis. The infection results from direct penetrating trauma but may also migrate from adjacent structures. It may spread to the thenar and midpalmar spaces if untreated. The small finger flexor sheath communicates with the ulnar bursa at the wrist and may allow spread of the infection into the distal forearm. Similarly, the thumb flexor sheath may spread the infection to the distal forearm via its communication with the radial bursa. Delay in treatment of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis can result in a stiff, painful finger as a result of the destruction of the tendon and flexor sheath.

S aureus is cultured most frequently, although hematogenous spread of N gonorrhoeae has been noted when history of trauma is absent.

Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis may result from local extension of another type of hand infection, most commonly flexor tenosynovitis, or it may be the primary site of infection. When it is the primary site of infection, osteomyelitis may be caused by penetrating trauma or hematogenous spread from a distant site. S aureus and streptococci are the most frequently cultured organisms, except in bite wounds.

The patient presents with a tender, edematous, erythematous joint. Joint motion is severely limited and is very painful. Arthrocentesis can be performed to obtain cultures and confirm the diagnosis. Spontaneous onset of a low-grade monoarticular arthritis characterized by redness, swelling, minimal heat, and mild pain is characteristic of N gonorrhoeae.

Oftentimes, pyarthrosis can be treated successfully with one or more irrigation and debridement procedures. One study reported that the factors that most influenced outcome were time to diagnosis and treatment, the number of irrigation and debridement procedures, patient comorbidities, and postoperative infection following nonjoint surgery. A higher risk for arthrodesis and amputation was noted in subjects who had more than 3 irrigation and debridement procedures.^[4]

Osteomyelitis

Like septic arthritis, osteomyelitis of the bones of the hand can result from local extension of other hand infections, or it may be caused by hematogenous spread from a distant site. Most occurrences result from local extension. Staphylococci and streptococci are cultured most frequently. Haemophilus influenzae is cultured frequently in children. Osteomyelitis presents with pain, erythema, and edema over the involved bone.

Plain radiographs, bone scans, CT scans, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein levels may help in establishing the diagnosis and should be correlated with clinical findings. Bone biopsy may be performed to obtain cultures. Necrotic bone should be debrided at the time of biopsy. Treatment should be initiated promptly to prevent destruction of the articular cartilage.

Mycobacterial infections

Among the acid-fast, gram-positive mycobacteria, M tuberculosis is the most common cause of hand infections. The infection most commonly affects the flexor tendon synovium, although bones and joints also may be affected. The presence of a chronic, granulomatous, open lesion or a firm, painless nodule around a joint should arouse suspicion. Biopsy is required for definitive diagnosis.

M marinum is found in aquatic environments. Infection usually results from a skin penetration in the hand in people who are in contact with marine life.^{[5, 6]} The injury is often so minor and the symptoms so slow in onset that the patient may not remember the injury. Patients present with chronic, persistent inflammation around a laceration, or with a small draining sinus tract in the hand.

Viral infections

Verruca vulgaris, the common wart, is the most frequent viral infection of the hand.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 can also cause infection in the hand (herpetic whitlow).^[7] The virus is found in the mouth. Children with stomatitis and health care workers (dentists, dental hygienists, nurses, physicians) who come in contact with the mouth are thus predisposed. The infection presents with multiple small vesicles filled with clear or cloudy fluid. The diagnosis should be confirmed with a Tzanck smear, which reveals characteristic multinucleated giant cells. Distinguishing between a felon and herpetic whitlow is important, since incision and drainage is contraindicated for herpetic whitlow. The infection resolves spontaneously in 2-3 weeks, and only supportive therapy is necessary.

The basic principles of treating any hand infection include elevation, heat, rest, antibiotics, incision and drainage when pus is present, and tetanus prophylaxis for open wounds. Elevation improves venous and lymphatic drainage and improves the patient's comfort level. Rest makes the patient more comfortable in addition to minimizing the spread of the infection along tissue planes. Heat improves the circulation and leukocyte count to the infected area. Moist heat is more effective than dry heat.

Cultures should be obtained, if possible, prior to commencing antibiotic therapy. Antibiotic therapy should be started while awaiting culture and sensitivity studies. The empiric choice of antibiotic depends on the organism(s) most likely to be cultured, based on the history of the injury or other causative factors.

Table 1. Empirical Choice of Antibiotics in Hand Infections (Open Table in a new window)

In most situations, a first-generation cephalosporin or penicillin is appropriate until sensitivity studies are completed. In patients with diabetes and in those abusing intravenous drugs, an aminoglycoside or aztreonam can be added to the therapeutic regimen for coverage of gram-negative organisms. Antibiotics are required for 7-10 days for soft tissue infections. Osteomyelitis requires a 4-6 week course of antibiotics. Antibiotics can be administered orally for a felon, paronychia, and dog or cat bite.

If an abscess is present, it should be incised, drained, irrigated, and loosely packed. Necrotic tissue that is present should be debrided. In general, the incision should be placed in the area that is pointing. Keep in mind the basic principles of hand surgery for placement of incisions.

In a felon (pulp space infection), rupture the fibrous septa by incising on the nondominant border and continuing across the pulp adjacent to the bone to open all of the septal compartments to properly drain the abscess. In chronic paronychia, marsupializing the eponychial fold may be necessary if topical antifungal agents provoke no response.

Most incidents of flexor tenosynovitis can be treated by a limited incision and placement of an irrigation catheter. If no response follows, open drainage is indicated.

Septic arthritis requires prompt incision and drainage followed by catheter irrigation for at least 48-72 hours.

Superficial mycobacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. Synovectomy combined with antibiotic therapy may be necessary in advanced cases. Ethambutol and rifampicin are the antibiotics of choice.

Herpetic infection is usually self-limiting and subsides over a 2-week period, requiring only supportive care (ie, rest, elevation, anti-inflammatory analgesics). In immunocompromised patients and patients with repeated infections, an antiviral agent such as acyclovir may be indicated.

Fungal infections of the nails should be treated with a topical anti-fungal agent after removing the nail, or with oral terbinafine (Lamisil).

Rehabilitation of the hand should begin as soon as the patient is able to tolerate range-of-motion exercises. This may be as soon as 1-2 days after drainage of a felon or paronychia or 3-4 days after open drainage of a pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis.