title: Hand infection in diabetic patients.
abstract: The diabetic hand infection is less reported in the literature. Therefore, it is easily ignored and underestimated resulting in increased morbidity among the diabetic population. Diabetic hand is a rapid in progression, extensive and severe tissue destruction. We analyze the clinical course and outcome of hand infection in diabetic patients. We reviewed all the admissions with hand infection from January 2006-April 2010. Thirty-seven patients were found with associated diabetes mellitus. The demographic data, culture report, number of operations and management, hospital stay and outcome-like amputation were recorded. The average age was 62 years. Pain and swelling were the chief complaints. The cause of infection was varied. The infection was superficial in 13 and deep in 24 patients. Forty-one percent of culture report revealed polymicrobial organism. The increased length of hospital stay, reoperations and amputation were associated with deep infection and polymicrobial organism. Prompt medical and surgical attentions are the most important factors. A proper glycemic control, elevation of the affected extremity, thorough and adequate surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotics are the important considerations when dealing with diabetic hand infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Hong Kong University, Division of Hand and Foot Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong S.A.R., China. dramirjalil@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jalil
authors.forename: Philip Ian
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Barlaan
authors.forename: Boris Kwok Keung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Josephine Wing-Yuk
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ip
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents