The hand is susceptible to infection by virtue of its intimate contact with the outside world, its great surface area and its propensity for injury. That is, the hand is exposed frequently to infectious organisms, and these organisms are frequently given a point of entry.
The specialized anatomy of the hand, particularly the tendon sheaths and deep fascial spaces, create distinct pathways for infection to spread. In addition, even fully cleared infections of the hand can result in significant morbidity, including stiffness and weakness. For these reasons, early and aggressive treatment of hand infections is imperative.
In this section, specific hand infections will be considered:
- paronychia: infection of the folds of skin surrounding a fingernail
- felon: a purulent collection on the palmar surface of the distal phalanx
- flexor tenosynovitis: purulent material resides within the flexor tendon sheath.
- septic arthritis: infection in the joint space, often related to bite wounds
Full Article - https://www.orthopaedia.com/finger-and-hand-infections/
