title: Human fight-bite injuries of the hand. A study of 100 cases within 18 months.
abstract: 100 consecutive patients whose finger had been bitten by another person, or who had cut it on a tooth in a fight, have been studied. 82 healed completely but 18 eventually needed amputation. Early and thorough debridement is required, plus a suitable mixture of antibiotics. Once infection is established in bone or tendon sheath, amputation is often needed, but most infected joints can be saved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand and Microsurgery, Medical University of Southern Africa, Pretoria.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mennen
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Howells
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence