Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Deep Space Hand Infection.
BACKGROUND
Point-of-care ultrasound is emerging as an important imaging modality for characterizing soft-tissue infections and provides advantages over physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
A 30-year-old man presented to the emergency department with extensive left upper extremity cellulitis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the left arm was preliminarily interpreted as soft-tissue swelling without evidence of deep-space infection. Point-of-care ultrasound revealed pockets of fluid with sonographic fluctuance tracking along the tendon sheath that were concerning for deep abscesses. Based on the ultrasound findings, the patient was taken emergently to the operating room, where multiple left hand and wrist loculated deep-space abscesses were decompressed. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case report highlights the significant advantages and easy-to-learn findings present in point-of-care ultrasound of musculoskeletal infections.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
Jonathan
J
Gottlieb
Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
Thomas
T
Mailhot
Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
Mikaela
M
Chilstrom
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
abscess; cellulitis; infectious; magnetic resonance imaging; orthopedic procedures; skin diseases; soft tissue infections; ultrasonography; upper extremity