Title: A Clinico - Epidemiological Study of Acute Pyogenic Hand Infections – Retrospective Study of 50 Cases

Authors: Dr Jojo.V. Joseph, Dr Mebin B Thomas

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i1.179

Abstract

Introduction

The importance of hand in human life is unimaginable. From an evolutionary aspect, our hands were relieved from duties of locomotion when we became bipeds. Many of our mental processes are developed by feeling and movements of hand.

The hand is composed of tough material together with a machinery of much refinement and tissues of great delicacy and specialization. The hand infiltrated and gutted by infections create several problems. After the tissues have sloughed out and the storm of infection is over, all the tissues contract and movable parts become bound with a cicatrix. Much of this complications can be prevented by early treatment of infection. As anywhere else, prevention is better than reconstruction of a frozen hand which requires specialized technique, place and person.

Materials and Methods

The aim of the study was to know the pattern of acute pyogenic hand infection in relation to age, sex, etiology, occupation, type of treatment and complication if any.

This retrospective study was done at caritas hospital, Kottayam Kerala from 1-1-2008 to 3-12-2010 by reviewing the case files. The present study consists of 50 cases of acute pyogenic infection. All were treated either by conservative treatment or by incision and drainage.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Jojo.V. Joseph

Consultant Surgical Oncologist, Caritas Cancer Institute, Kottayam