Panaritium is an inflammatory process that can develop on both the toe and hand. Inflammation is caused by bacteria. Usually these are staphylococci or streptococci, but anaerobic microflora can also join, causing putrefactive melting of the finger tissue.
The occurrence of panaritium on the leg is associated with microtrauma, a splinter, improper pedicure or cutting of hangnails, when an infection from shoes, soil, or clothing enters the wound.
There are several types of it, depending on which tissues are inflamed and where the pus has managed to get into. That's it:
Separate forms include paronychia (when pus is located in the periungual fold), subungual felon (accumulation of pus under the nail), as well as a situation where pus melts all tissues - from skin to bone (this is called pandactylitis).
Manifestations of panaritium on the leg
The difference between panaritium and other purulent diseases is that this disease is characterized by a fairly rapid spread of pus to neighboring areas and tissues. This is due to the structure of the hands and feet: under the skin there is subcutaneous fat, under which tendons and muscles pass. The peculiarity of these places is that the tendons of the muscles that move the fingers are enclosed in special cases of connective tissue and surrounded by loose fatty tissue: pus, entering such a layer, easily spreads both in length and thickness.
Panaritium manifests itself as swelling, redness and pain in the area of the finger of varying severity. The pain is pulsating in nature, it intensifies at night, and tends to increase. Surgeons even have a rule for the first sleepless night, which means that if a person could not sleep due to pain in his finger, it is time to operate on him.
As the purulent process spreads, the patient’s general condition worsens: weakness appears, body temperature rises, and the pulse quickens. It becomes more and more painful to move a finger or step on it when walking, swelling and redness become more noticeable and more pronounced.
Treatment of panaritium on the leg is almost always surgical - under local (in a common process - under general) anesthesia, the abscess is opened, dead tissue is removed, then the wound is drained and 1-2 sutures are placed on it, or no sutures are applied at all. The wound is washed with solutions of peroxide, chlorhexidine, furacillin. Antibiotics are prescribed orally or intramuscularly (intravenously).
If the abscess is visible under the skin, the swelling and redness are small, and you haven’t had a sleepless night yet, you can try the following method: alternate 2 types of compress during the day:
1) Bandages with hypertonic sodium chloride solution: you can buy a ready-made 10% solution at the pharmacy or prepare it yourself by dissolving a tablespoon of salt in a glass of water. Apply the compress and hold until it dries, 2-3 times a day.
2) Compress with dimexide: dilute dimexide with boiled water at the rate of 1:4, wet sterile gauze with this solution, apply it to your finger, put polyethylene on top, and the top layer is a bandage or cotton cloth. The best option would be to pour an antibiotic solution on top of the gauze (for example, penicillin diluted with saline - 5 ml per 1 bottle), and then just apply cellophane and gauze.
When treating felon, you need to remember one rule: the abscess must not be heated under any circumstances in order to prevent the process from spreading to the underlying and neighboring tissues.
Panaritium on the toe is a problem that requires mandatory treatment. Surgeons say that this disease occurs quite often. Fortunately, there are now many ways to treat the disease.
Felon on the leg is inherently an infectious disease. It is accompanied by severe inflammation with copious discharge of pus at the site of the skin lesion. Most often it occurs on the big toe. This phenomenon is due to the anatomical features of the structure of the limbs.
There can be a large number of harmful bacteria on the surface of human skin. Under certain conditions, they affect the upper layers of the epidermis and thereby cause inflammation. Most often, finger panaritium is caused by streptococci and staphylococci. They penetrate soft tissues through cuts, punctures, hangnails, splinters or other skin lesions.
It is important to remember that very often the disease occurs as a result of carelessly performed pedicure. Therefore, it is imperative to thoroughly disinfect all instruments that are used during the procedure.
In addition to the main reasons, there are factors that significantly increase the risk of contracting the disease. These include:
During the treatment process, it is necessary to establish which factor provoked the onset of the disease. This will help avoid future infections.
Purulent inflammation of the finger is accompanied by vivid and very recognizable symptoms. The panaritium develops quite quickly. Within a few days, the suppuration can reach large sizes.
Symptoms of felon directly depend on the form of the disease. Its main varieties can be found in the table.
How to treat the disease will directly depend on the form of felon. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor in time.
Drug therapy is the most effective and fastest-acting in the treatment of panaritium. It involves the use of drugs of various spectrums of action.
It is important to remember that the sooner measures are taken, the greater the chances of a speedy recovery!
First of all, doctors recommend using ointments and creams. These agents act directly at the site of the lesion, and accordingly show a fairly high level of effectiveness. The most commonly used anti-inflammatory ointments are Levomekol and Levosin. If you start treatment immediately, then with their help you can cure suppuration for 3-4 days.
Depending on the nature of the disease, antifungal drugs and antibiotic therapy are used. These medications should be taken only after being prescribed by your doctor, as they have some contraindications.
To alleviate the general condition of the patient and reduce pain, anesthetic drugs are prescribed. Medicines based on Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are very effective and least harmful.
If treatment for panaritium on the finger is not started in a timely manner, then there is a high probability that surgical intervention will be required. This radical method helps to open the suppurations that are located under the nails, on the tendons or bone tissue. The surgical operation, depending on the complexity, can be performed under either local or general anesthesia.
If the inflammation is located under the nail plate, then its removal is often required. When panaritizing bones and tendons, not only the abscesses are cleansed, but also dead tissue of the finger is removed. This is necessary to avoid further infection. Unfortunately, in very severe forms of the disease, amputation may be necessary.
During the operation, doctors wash the location of the abscess with special antiseptics. If necessary, the patient is given an antibiotic. The wound is then sutured and regular dressings are prescribed. It is imperative to monitor the condition of the stitches to avoid re-infection. To do this, they are treated with healing creams.
Treating panaritium on a finger at home is quite risky. If in the initial stages some traditional medicine can improve the patient’s condition, then with severe suppuration they can only aggravate the problem. Therefore, you should not engage in self-treatment.
Experts in their practice do not reject some effective folk methods of combating felon, for example, these include:
If panaritium of the toe occurs, treatment should begin as quickly as possible. The speed of recovery and the patient’s overall well-being depend on this. Do not forget that the disease develops very quickly and in a few days pandactylitis can occur from simple suppuration, which poses a danger to a person’s life.
Panaritium is an acute inflammatory disease of the tissues of the finger (or toe). It often develops on the outer phalanges of the fingers as a result of infection through small wounds, cuts, scratches or injections. Microtraumas open the gates for pathogenic microbes, which, once inside, cause inflammation. Infection can be caused by staphylococcal, streptococcal or enterococcal, as well as mixed pathogenic microflora.
The inflammatory process can spread to the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, as well as to the joints, bones and tendons of the fingers. There are serous (edematous) and purulent forms of panaritium .
The most vulnerable are people with diabetes or other diseases of the endocrine glands, as well as people with poor circulation in the small vessels of the fingers.
The appearance of panaritium is necessarily preceded by microtrauma. Swelling and redness appear in this area. A throbbing, tugging pain is felt in the area of inflammation. Panaritium may be accompanied by chills, fever and general malaise.
There are superficial forms of panaritium, in which inflammation affects only the upper layers of the dermis, and deep ones, in which tendons, joints and bone tissue are affected.
Cutaneous occurs on the back of the finger. Pus accumulates under the top layer of skin, forming a blister with cloudy contents. The skin at the site of inflammation turns red. Pain and burning occurs. If the bubble increases in size, this indicates that the disease is progressing and moving to deeper tissues.
Periungual panaritium (paronychia) occurs when the periungual fold is inflamed. Often this type of panaritium is the result of improper manicure. The skin of the nail fold at the edge of the nail becomes inflamed as a result of minor skin damage (hangnails, small cracks or cuts).
The subcutaneous panaritium develops under the pad of the finger. The skin of the finger on the pad is dense. When the resulting pus cannot break through, the inflammation goes deeper. With this type of panaritium, constant shooting pains are felt; when lightly pressed, a sharp pain occurs. If treatment is not started on time, inflammation can affect joints, tendons or bones.
Subungual panaritium is characterized by inflammation of the tissue under the nail plate. The cause of this panaritium may be a splinter or an injection under the nail.
Tendon panaritium is the most severe type of panaritium and can lead to long-term impairment of hand mobility. The finger is swollen and mobility is limited. When you try to straighten your finger, severe pain occurs.
Articular panaritium occurs if the infection penetrates into the joint cavity. This can occur with injury or be the result of long-term suppuration in the soft tissues above the joint. This type of panaritium is characterized by fusiform expansion in the joint area, limited joint mobility, and pain when pressed or moved.
Osteoarticular felon occurs with the progression of articular felon. With this disease, the purulent process, in addition to the joints, involves bone tissue.
Bone panaritium affects the bone tissue of the finger. Occurs after infection (for example, with open, infected fractures) or is a consequence of the spread of inflammation to the bone from adjacent tissues.
Panaritium, especially deep, definitely needs treatment. In an advanced state, inflammation spreads to all tissues of the finger, hand and even forearm, and pandactylitis develops. It happens that the only way to stop the spread of suppuration is amputation.
To prevent panaritium, for every, even minor, injury to a finger, you need to treat the wound with an antiseptic (iodine, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol solution, etc.).
An important means of preventing felon is clean hands. However, we should not forget that small cracks appear on skin that is overdried by detergents, through which pathogenic microorganisms can penetrate. Therefore, you should not allow your skin to dry out excessively.
When cleaning or working in the garden, you need to use gloves. If it is not possible or desirable to use gloves, you need to lubricate your hands with a protective cream before work and a moisturizer after.
You need to be careful when you have to deal with cutting tools and dirt: for example, when peeling potatoes. It is always better to wash vegetables off the soil first and then peel them. You also need to be careful when cutting fish (injections with fish bones are a common cause of felons).
It is better not to use other people's manicure devices. When doing a manicure, you should try to injure the skin around the nail bed as little as possible. It is better to move the cuticle rather than trim it with scissors. Carefully remove hangnails - they often cause periungual panaritium.
The choice of treatment method for felon depends on the stage of the disease and the location of the inflammatory process.
Conservative treatment is indicated in the initial stages of superficial types of panaritium: cutaneous and periungual. Prescribed:
Surgical treatment is carried out in the late stages of superficial types of felon, when conservative therapy is no longer effective, and is also used at all stages of deep types of felon.
Treatment of felon with folk remedies will be effective if used regularly, from the initial stage of inflammation. If, despite all efforts, the process progresses, severe pain, swelling appears, your health worsens and your body temperature rises, self-medication should be stopped and you should consult a surgeon.
Panaritium is a purulent inflammation of the tissues of the finger, less commonly the foot. In most cases, fingers I, II, and III are affected. According to statistics, people aged twenty to fifty years are more likely to suffer from panaritium, which is associated primarily with active work. Thus, approximately 75% of cases of the disease are caused by work-related injury and only 10% by domestic injury, 15% are caused by other causes. It is worth noting that felon often occurs in early childhood. And it is not surprising, because children are very inquisitive, active and often receive micro-injuries to the skin.
Purulent inflammation in tissues is caused by pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria: staphylococcus, streptococcus, enterococcus, Proteus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microorganisms get deep into the tissues of the finger through all kinds of cuts, puncture wounds, splinters, bites, burns, and cracks. Concomitant factors also influence the development of purulent inflammation:
For working people, such aggravating factors are the influence of vibration, hypothermia, as well as exposure to irritating chemicals.
The skin of the palmar surface of the hand is tightly fused with the aponeurosis, their connection is ensured by fibrous bridges. The bridges form closed cells filled with fat cells. Thanks to this, the infection spreads deeper, rather than wider, into the hand. These anatomical features explain why purulent processes are predominantly localized on the palmar surface.
Depending on the location of the purulent process, as well as its spread, the following types of felons are distinguished:
The first four forms are classified as superficial felon , the next four - as deep . In superficial forms of the disease, local symptoms prevail in the clinical picture, and general symptoms are mild. And deep forms of panaritium can greatly affect the general well-being of the patient.
Clinical manifestations depend primarily on the type of panaritium.
In this form of the disease, the purulent process is located within the skin. Often suppuration occurs in the epidermis, with pus raising the stratum corneum. As a result, a purulent bubble forms on the skin. The blister is surrounded by a narrow rim of hyperemia. Yellow pus is visible through the wall of the bladder. The pain with this form of panaritium is mild.
In this form of the disease, purulent inflammation is concentrated in the subcutaneous fat. The danger of subcutaneous panaritium is that pus from subcutaneous fat can spread to the tendon sheath, joints, and bones.
In most cases, the purulent process is concentrated in the area of the distal phalanx of the finger on the palmar surface. A couple of days, and sometimes several hours after receiving microtrauma, pain appears in this area, which then transforms into throbbing pain, especially worse at night, which disturbs sleep.
Often the patient develops regional lymphadenitis, weakness, and increased body temperature.
The boundaries of purulent inflammation are determined by the extent of pain detected when pressing on the affected area of the finger with the tip of tweezers.
In the area of pain, thickening and redness of the skin is determined. There may be slight swelling in the dorsum of the hand.
Infection of the periungual fold occurs due to existing hangnails caused by microtrauma during manicure. The purulent process seeps under the nail, thereby peeling it off from the nail bed. The periungual fold and the surrounding skin become edematous and swollen. Soreness is noted. When pressing on the affected area, pus appears on the surface of the skin. If you look closely, you can also see pus under the nail plate.
The process can become chronic and last for weeks.
This form of the disease develops as a result of a splinter getting under the nail or infection of a hematoma formed as a result of a bruise in the nail area. A yellowish accumulation of pus is visualized under the nail plate, and local soreness is noted. In addition, redness and swelling in the area of the periungual fold are detected. The person is bothered by severe throbbing pain, noticeably worsening when lowering the arm.
Bacteria penetrate into the tendon sheath of the flexor finger when it is damaged by all kinds of wounding objects or due to the spread of purulent infection from the subcutaneous tissue. The appearance of purulent exudate in the tendon sheath provokes an increase in pressure there. Clinically, this is manifested by the appearance of severe pain. The danger is that increased pressure and effusion compress the blood vessels, and this can lead to tendon necrosis. As a result, the functions of the finger are irreversibly impaired.
The purulent process from the tendon sheaths of the 1st and 2nd fingers can spread to the deep cellular space of the forearm. And isolated suppuration of the tendon sheath of the 1st finger can spread to the tendon sheath of the 5th finger; this phenomenon is called U-shaped phlegmon.
Tendon panaritium occurs with severe throbbing pain. Pain occurs upon palpation along the tendon sheath. The affected finger is red, enlarged, half-bent, and when you try to straighten it, excruciating pain occurs.
This form of the disease occurs as a result of the introduction of microorganisms directly into the bone itself during injury, but more often as a result of the spread of a purulent process to the periosteum during subcutaneous felon.
Bone panaritium often affects the nail phalanx. The finger is slightly bent, the slightest movements lead to increased pain. Purulent effusion leads to compression of blood vessels, as well as detachment of the periosteum. As a result, necrosis of bone tissue occurs. Even after drainage of a purulent focus (operative or spontaneous), the inflammatory process can become chronic due to infected dead bone tissue. With a long course of the disease, the nail phalanx increases in volume and becomes club-shaped.
Bone panaritium occurs with intoxication symptoms in the form of weakness, fever, lymphadenitis.
This form of the disease develops as a result of infection of the joint cavity when a puncture wound is applied in this area or when a purulent process passes from the soft tissues or adjacent phalanx. It is noteworthy that the appearance of purulent effusion leads to the rapid destruction of elements of the articular apparatus. Therefore, complete restoration of joint function even after healing often does not occur.
Swelling and pain appear in the joint area, which soon spread to the entire finger. Due to the destruction of the articular elements, pathological mobility of the joint occurs, as well as crepitus during movements. The general well-being of a person also worsens: weakness, increased body temperature, and lymphadenitis appear.
This is the most severe form of the disease, affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissue, tendons, joints and bones. It develops as a complication of skin, joint, bone felon, which is possible if the patient does not consult a doctor in a timely manner or in the presence of general diseases that aggravate the course of felon.
The affected finger is greatly enlarged and even deformed. The skin of the finger is tense, cyanotic-purple, which indicates a severe circulatory disorder. The finger assumes a half-bent position. Often fistulas form on its surface, through which pus is released.
The patient feels severe weakness, fever and lymphadenitis are noted.
For superficial forms of panaritium, conservative treatment with antibacterial agents and NSAIDs, physiotherapy, and baths with hypertonic salt solution is possible in the initial stages. Unfortunately, patients often do not consult a doctor during this period, hoping that the disease will go away on its own. But after a couple of days the purulent process gains momentum. Surgeons are guided by the rule of the first sleepless night, which goes like this: if the patient did not sleep at night due to pain in the finger, then it is time to operate.
The operation should be carried out as early as possible, since the spread of the purulent process deeper can lead to tissue necrosis.
With cutaneous panaritium, the surgeon removes the exfoliated layer of the epidermis with scissors, and then applies a bandage with an antiseptic.
With subcutaneous panaritium, the surgeon makes parallel incisions corresponding to the purulent focus, and on the nail phalanges - club-shaped incisions. After opening the abscess, the doctor excises the necrotic tissue and dissects the fibrous bridges to open the tissue cells. The cavity is drained through two incisions. Then a bandage is applied and the finger is immobilized in the required position.
To treat periungual panaritium, the purulent cavity is opened, the necrotic soft tissue of the periungual fold is removed, and then a bandage with an antiseptic is applied. If pus has accumulated under the base of the nail, the nail plate is removed. After the operation, you need to apply bandages with ointment. The same is done for subungual felon.
Tendon panaritium can sometimes be treated conservatively by puncture of the tendon sheath with aspiration of purulent contents and administration of an antibiotic. But in most cases it is still necessary to resort to surgical intervention. The surgeon makes parallel incisions on the proximal and middle phalanges, then opens the tendon sheath. The wound is washed and drained through. After surgery, the vagina is regularly washed with antiseptics. If the tendon dies, it is removed.
With bone felon, the surgeon makes longitudinal parallel incisions, removes necrotic soft tissue, as well as destroyed bone. In this case, the base of the phalanx must be preserved, since it is thanks to it that bone tissue regeneration is possible in the future. And with articular panaritium, the surgeon removes the affected joint with the prospect of creating arthrodesis in the future.
In case of pandactylitis, in order to save the finger, the surgeon removes fragments of bones and cartilage, as well as opening pockets and leaks with their drainage. But, unfortunately, in many cases it is necessary to amputate the finger.
Grigorova Valeria, medical observer
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Panaritium is an acute purulent inflammation of the tissues of the finger. This is one of the most common purulent diseases. The causative agents are most often staphylococci. The disease is provoked by the penetration of pathogens into the tissues through cuts, injections, splinters, frequent injuries and constant violation of the integrity of the soft tissue and the nail plate. Purulent contents begin to accumulate under and next to the nail plate. In the absence of appropriate therapy, inflammation penetrates deep into the tissue and affects the tendon and bones.
Panaritium on the toe: treatment
It is quite difficult to recognize the disease on your own, as it may have similar symptoms to other inflammatory processes. When panaritium occurs on the leg, the patient exhibits the following symptoms:
Attention! It is important to carefully monitor its indicators as the temperature rises. If the body temperature reaches +39 degrees, you should urgently call an ambulance, since there is a high probability of sepsis due to the widespread spread and formation of purulent masses on the leg. Such high rates indicate the spread of infection throughout the body.
Azithromycin is characterized by rapid results and the possibility of completing a minimal course of therapy
A modern drug that is characterized by quick results and the possibility of undergoing a minimal course of therapy. Patients tolerate the prescribed treatment well if they do not have problems with individual intolerance and kidneys. Azithromycin is taken only once a day in the amount of 500 mg of the active ingredient. An antibacterial drug is taken for three days. In exceptional cases, the course dose of the active substance can be doubled, but only under the direct supervision of the attending physician.
Skin diseases are treated with the drug within three days. In this case, Sumalek is taken at the same time, 0.5 g of the active ingredient. The antibiotic should be taken an hour after meals to ensure maximum absorption. The drug is an analogue of the expensive Sumamed. The need to increase the dose during panaritium and prolong the course of therapy should be checked with your doctor.
Ziromin allows you to achieve the required therapeutic result in 3-5 days
A good modern antibiotic that allows you to achieve the required therapeutic result in 3-5 days. If symptoms of felon appear on the toe, you should take 500 mg of the active ingredient once a day. To maintain the required concentration of the main component, you should drink the medication at the same time.
Attention! Antibacterial drugs are taken by patients with panaritium of an infectious nature with active bacterial activity. For viral diseases, antibiotics are not taken.
Ichthyol ointment is a traditional medicine that is used in the presence of any purulent inflammation
A traditional medicine that is used in the presence of any purulent inflammation. The active substance ichthyol is able to penetrate deep into the skin, reaching the source of inflammation. When using the ointment, allergic reactions occur in rare cases. The strength of the drug is the absence of the possible development of tissue atrophy. Use Ichthyol ointment three times a day under a tight bandage. Therapy using the drug lasts up to two weeks.
The ointment is a drug with a combined effect, resulting in an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. Levosin should be applied exclusively to sterile napkins, and then fixed with a bandage. The compress is changed daily. Treatment with the drug continues until the inflamed focus of the disease is completely eliminated.
Tetracycline ointment perfectly relieves inflammation and redness
An antibacterial ointment that perfectly relieves not only inflammation and redness. It also helps reduce swelling and eliminate the pain caused by panaritium on the toe. Tetracycline ointment is applied 1-2 times a day for two weeks. If a patient has a kidney problem, the doctor may recommend adjusting the dose to prevent kidney failure.
A first-generation drug, which can cause a fairly large number of side effects in the patient. Synthomycin ointment should be used only in adult patients; no exceptions are allowed. The active substance is applied to the sterile surface of a bandage or napkin, after which they should be fixed. The dosage of the ointment is very small; you should apply a substance no larger than a pea. Before applying a bandage, the affected area should be disinfected. You can use Syntomycin ointment for two weeks.
Attention! Since ointments are applied to bandages, you should ensure that they are always changed on time. This will not increase the manifestations of inflammation.
The drug is a disinfectant solution for treating the skin. The medication should be used as an element of combination therapy. To process felon, you should take a small sterile napkin and soak it with an antiseptic. It is applied to the affected area until completely dry. You can repeat the procedure 3-4 times.
A traditional antiseptic that has been used in medical practice for a long time. It disinfects the skin well, which avoids further spread of infection and bacteria. Antisept is used in the same way as Dermasept-Gel. Only in exceptional cases did the medication cause allergic reactions in the form of swelling.
Attention! Therapy using an antiseptic drug continues until the disturbing symptoms disappear completely.
A good remedy for treating felon on the toe, which can be used even in childhood. To prepare it, take the white of a chicken egg and place it in a glass. After this, medical alcohol should be added until the protein begins to coagulate.
After this, the substance should be passed through a fine sieve and the flakes should be placed on a sterile gauze bandage. The compress is kept on the leg for 7-10 hours, after which it should be changed. Therapy can continue until the symptoms of panaritium completely disappear.
Treatment of felon finger with folk remedies
This substance allows not only to significantly reduce the manifestation of felon, but also to remove severe pain due to its localization at the nail plate. To prepare a medicinal solution, dissolve a pinch of the substance in 50 ml of warm boiled water. Place the sore toe in the resulting liquid and keep it there for 15 minutes. The course of therapy continues daily until complete recovery.
This therapy can also be used by pregnant women and young children. For treatment, you should use soda baths, which are prepared according to the following recipe. For 1000 ml of boiled water with a water temperature of +37 degrees, you should take two tablespoons of the substance. For better effects, you should also add 1-2 tablespoons of table salt to the solution. After stirring, place your foot in the medicinal solution or moisten gauze with it and apply it to the sore spot. Therapy continues for 10-20 minutes, after which the foot should be dried with a soft cloth or paper towel. Treatment continues until symptoms disappear completely.
Attention! It is important to understand that traditional methods of treatment are used only as a combination therapy with traditional medications.
To prevent such a rather dangerous disease, it is enough to follow a number of recommendations:
Attention! Most often, children under 10 years of age suffer from such pathologies. Therefore, it is so important to teach your child personal hygiene and independently monitor the condition of his nails and toes.
It is important to begin treatment of the disease at its first manifestations in order to prevent dangerous destruction of tissue, bones, tendons and joints. In such cases, a decision is made on mandatory surgical intervention to avoid the development of gangrene.
In some cases, panaritium on the toe can become chronic. This usually occurs due to a significant decrease in the body's protective functions. To prevent this during therapy, it is also advisable for the patient to take vitamin complexes.
One of the inflammatory pathologies of human extremities, panaritium of the finger and toe, is characterized by purulent-inflammatory lesions of the skin surface and deep damage to the tissues of the joints.
The process of inflammation with purulent development is localized in the nail phalanx of the finger on the palm or foot, affecting the subcutaneous tissue.
As the disease develops, the purulent-inflammatory reaction spreads along the dense tendon flexors (cords). At the same time, the accumulation of pus in the cavities of the connective tissue bridges, without having a way out of the confined space, causes a number of pathological changes that provoke the further development of finger disease - panaritium, due to:
Diagnostic code according to ICD-10 (micd felon of the finger) – L03.0.
Toe panaritium photo
The root cause of the development of the disease is bacteria of the staphylococcus family. Sometimes they are detected with the company of microorganisms of different virulence - streptococci, diplococci or intestinal bacteria. The amount varies depending on the condition of the epidermis of the hands and its relative humidity.
Increased humidity and heat (with calluses, hangnails, large nails and cracks) contribute to rapid skin maceration and the rapid proliferation of pyogenic pathogenic microorganisms.
The biological structure of the skin does not allow the “infection” to just get inside. Its protective functions are performed by the upper (horny) layer of the epidermis and lactic acid secreted by the sweat glands. The penetration of bacteria into the skin layers and the development of felon on a finger or toe is facilitated by factors that violate the integrity of the skin:
Often microtraumas turn out to be more serious in clinical manifestations than extensive deep trauma, which is immediately subjected to qualified and timely treatment (with microtraumas this is often ignored).
A special role in the development of the disease is given to wound injuries caused by rusty nails, glass and tin. Lacerated and incised wounds, bruises or punctures are prone to suppuration.
This is due to faster healing and closure of the skin over the wound, leaving the infection deeper. Such wounds are resistant to antiseptics if treatment is not carried out immediately.
The everyday cause of panaritium of the toe is abrasion of the skin with uncomfortable shoes, bruises or punctures. Promote the “comfortable” development of bacteria carriers:
Signs and symptoms of panaritium depend on the location of the injuries and the level of damage to tissue structures, determined by the species.
Panaritium of a finger on the hand photo
herpetic panaritium photo
The cutaneous appearance is characterized by damage to the skin only. Symptoms of panaritium are manifested by minor pain and twitching, gradually intensifying, becoming permanent. Inflammatory processes cause detachment of the epidermis with a vesicular formation in the center filled with pus.
Subcutaneous panaritium of the finger is characterized by subcutaneous fatty inflammation. Primary symptoms appear on the 6th or even 10th day after injury. The beginning of development is characterized by:
The development of the tendon type of disease is caused by a complication of subcutaneous panaritium, when the infection penetrates into the deep layers of tissue or due to infection of deep wounds. Symptoms appear a couple of hours after injury:
Signs of articular panaritium appear with deep puncture wounds, or due to the adjacent proximity of a focus of inflammation, causing purulent inflammation in the trochlear joints. Often the inflammation affects the phalanx itself and the articular panaritium can be combined with a bony appearance.
In addition to the general symptoms, with a more pronounced manifestation, inflammatory damage to the ligamentous apparatus:
Symptoms of the periungual and subungual forms of the disease are caused by one reason - a tear in the nail plate, splinters under the nails, hangnails or puncture wounds. The inflammatory process occurs under the nail plate.
With deep pathology, the periungual ridges are affected. With a superficial pathology, only the skin of the roller becomes inflamed. Signs of felon are accompanied by:
When choosing a treatment regimen for panaritium of a finger on the hand, it is useful to recall the definition of the famous English physician John Gunther:
“The center of gravity of the treatment of felon lies in the early incision. It’s time to forget, unfortunately, the prejudice that is not alien even to doctors, that you need to let the suppuration “mature” and then make an incision. The fruits of the ripening felon, under patches, plasters and other inventions of human frivolity, come to us in the form of necrosis, fusion of dry veins, reduction of joints, in the form of unusable fingers and hands.”
But even opening a purulent formation cannot mean a complete cure, since even after it, complex treatment is necessary. The end result should be elimination of inflammation processes and restoration of joint functions.
The tactics of surgical and conservative treatment of felon of the finger consists of several directions:
For panaritium on the toe, the treatment regimen is similar. It is compiled individually, taking into account the type of pathology and the period of the disease.
It is possible to use home treatment when there is no significant pain, hyperemia, swelling, and only with superficial lesions. To do this, use ready-made pharmaceutical products and drugs prepared independently. The most effective:
For superficial lesions, many folk recipes are very effective. By using them in the early phase of the disease, surgical intervention can be prevented.
It is dangerous to treat inflammatory and purulent pathologies of the deep panaritium of the finger with home remedies and folk recipes. There is a high risk of developing all kinds of pathological processes.
Untimely and inadequate treatment of deep forms of the disease increases the likelihood of developing complicated processes:
The basis for the prevention of panaritium of the finger and toe is the prevention of injuries and early treatment of the initial superficial forms of suppuration.
The most important element in preventing purulent processes is antiseptic treatment of wounds, application of a microbial-protective film with BF-6 glue.
First aid kits must contain antiseptic preparations and solutions, sets of adhesive plasters with antiseptic impregnation, and wound-healing medical glue.