Factors related to the resolution of treated hand infections.
One hundred thirty-eight patients with acute hand infection (81% deep) treated from 1970 to 1980 in hospital were reviewed. Resolution time of infection was slow, 8 days or longer in 57% of 135 patients and 15 days or longer in 28%. Such slow resolution occurred in infection of closed anatomical spaces and included 50% of all pulp space and joint infections, 23% of tenosynovitis, and 24% of subcutaneous dorsal had infections. There was a direct correlation between increasing treatment delay and slower resolution of infections in pulp spaces, palmar spaces, joints, and tendon sheaths. If the mean treatment delay was greater than a brief 2 1/2 days, 69% of tenosynovitis showed delayed resolution. Other factors associated with the rate of resolution were adequacy of surgical drainage, efficacy of antibiotics, and associated diabetes mellitus.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000601:surgery; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D001734:Bites, Human / Q000150:complications; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010304:Paronychia / Q000601:surgery; D013492:Suppuration; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents