This disease can not be called rare. Most often it occurs in people engaged in active physical activity. Often in children. This is an inflammation of the soft tissues of the phalanx of the fingers, the cause of which is most often an injury - industrial, domestic, accidental. The disease is dangerous because without proper treatment it flows into gangrene. And this is already fraught with amputation of the finger and other serious consequences.
In the article we will analyze the main varieties of the disease, tell you how to treat panaritium on the finger, how this disease occurs, what are the risk factors. Consider how to provide first aid in this condition.
What it is?
Before you figure out how to treat panaritium on the finger, we will understand what kind of pathology it is.
This is the name of purulent inflammation of the soft tissues of the phalanges of the finger on both the arms and legs. Most often it is of an infectious nature, it affects the upper limbs. According to statistics, it is diagnosed in relation to 1/3 of all inflammatory hand diseases caused by the development of a purulent environment. Moreover, most often panaritium occurs on the index and thumb of the dominant human hand.
In common parlance, this disease is better known as "hair". Such an unusual name for physicians, meanwhile, quite accurately hints at the nature of the disease. On the fingers you can see thin tendon fibers. They form a net, or even merge into an ear. Through such a “hair”, the inflammatory process spreads rather quickly, it can affect joints, bone, and cause inflammatory processes in these tissues.
How to treat panaritium on the finger? The answer must be obtained from your doctor. After all, improper therapy leads to serious consequences: total inflammation of the three phalanges of the fingers, which comes to the melting of the bone and subsequent amputation. If, after receiving a hand injury, you feel general weakness, dizziness, note a high body temperature, you need to immediately see a doctor!
Cause
You can see in the article in the photo panaritium on the finger. The treatment of such a disease should be very responsible. But why does it arise?
The reason for the onset of the inflammatory process here is an infection that can penetrate the soft tissues of the phalanxes of the fingers through micro-injuries, scratches, sores, abrasions, scratching, insect bites, foreign bodies (in particular, splinters). In this case, inflammation is caused by bacteria of various kinds. According to statistics, the most common cause are various strains of Staphylococcus aureus (about 58% of cases), streptococci (about 12% of cases), mixed microflora (all other cases).
It must be said that pyogenic microflora is ubiquitous. The cause of the infectious process in the subcutaneous tissue, it can only become if there are the following reasons:
- Damage and decreased skin resistance.
- Immunodeficiency, weakening of the body's defenses.
- Endocrine Disorders In particular, diabetes.
- Hormonal dysfunctions in the body.
Risk factors
The treatment of panaritium on the finger must be approached with all responsibility. After all, untimely, insufficient, incorrect therapy leads to irreversible consequences. There are also risk factors, in the presence of which the probability of developing panaritium increases:
- Frequent hand washing with soap or other cleaning products containing chemicals, aggressive ingredients.
- The presence of bad habits: to take fingers into the mouth, bite their tips, tear off or bite off burrs and nails.
- Abuse of cosmetic procedures that may be accompanied by trauma to the soft tissues of the finger - manicure, pedicure.
- The use of drugs, a side effect of which is a decrease in immunity. In particular, derivatives of vitamin A.
- Taking medications designed to suppress immunity as part of the complex therapy of oncological and autoimmune pathologies. In particular, chemotherapy, immunosuppressants.
- Chronic inflammatory processes on the skin. They are accompanied by allergic dermatitis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, and other skin diseases.
- Diabetes mellitus, vitamin deficiency, immunodeficiency.
Disease development
Treatment of panaritium of the finger on the arm or foot should be carried out only under the supervision of a qualified specialist. After all, the inflammatory process in this part of the body progresses very quickly.
One of the main functions of the skin is protective. It protects the body from the penetration of infections into the subcutaneous tissue. Accordingly, various skin lesions open the way for pyogenic microflora. It can cause cellulitis - inflammation of the soft tissues of the finger. Thus, even a small abrasion can lead to infection, accompanied by the formation of inflammatory infiltrate. Then an abscess develops with a high content of inflammatory fluid - pus.
Panaritium is inherently an infectious inflammation of fiber in the soft tissues of the phalanges of the fingers or toes. The structure and communication of this tissue prevents the spread of infection to other parts of the arm or leg. But at the same time, it also contributes to the formation of abscesses.
Due to the increase in tissue pressure (which is facilitated by inflammation and swelling), the patient notes severe pain in the hand (foot). With the further development of the disease, improper treatment, the inflammatory process goes to tendons, joints, bone.
The deeper the inflammation spread from the skin, the more difficult it is to treat the disease. At an advanced stage, panaritium can lead to the defeat of all the anatomical structures of the finger, the development of gangrene. Here the situation is decided only by amputation. Moreover, abscessed forms of the disease often recur. Therefore, it is necessary to open all the affected cells of the subcutaneous tissue, to clear them of already inflamed tissues. Treatment of panaritium on the toe, hands in this case is carried out in a hospital.
On the foot, panaritium occurs much less frequently. This is due to the fact that fingers are injured more often than foot fingers. The development of the inflammatory process is the same in both cases.
Classification of forms of the disease
Treatment at home panaritium of the toe is unacceptable without the permission of the doctor. Self-medication often leads to the need for extreme measures - amputation of the finger.
If we turn to ICD-10, then inflammatory diseases of the soft tissues of the phalanges of the fingers of an infectious nature refer here to one of the forms of cellulite. In the International Classifier, the disease is marked with the code L03.0.
In clinical practice, the following classification of forms of panaritium is used:
- Cutaneous. This is a defeat of surface structures. An intradermal abscess is formed, containing pus. Most often this is a bubble, a blister on the back or side of the finger. First, it is filled with serous fluid, then purulent or bloody. This form of panaritium is accompanied by an increase in nearby lymph nodes.
- Subcutaneous. Here an abscess develops in the subcutaneous tissue. Most often - on the palmar side of the finger. Infection comes through a cut, scratch. The patient notes a sharp, intense, throbbing pain, which intensifies when you click on the wound. It is accompanied by redness and swelling of the skin.
- Okolonogtevy (paronychia). This is an infectious lesion of the tissue surrounding the nail. Sections of the periungual roller redden and swell. An abscess (suppuration) may form. When you click on the affected area, the patient feels intense pain. Most often, this is a consequence of manicure, pedicure, carried out without antiseptics.
- Subungual (hyponychia). Accordingly, purulent inflammation of the tissue that is under the nail plate. May be the result of ignored paronychia. Direct infection is also possible. For example, from a splinter under the nail. In some cases, hyponychia is a consequence of a hematoma that has arisen due to a blunt strong blow to the nail (hammer blow, furniture).
- Bone. This is a type of finger bone osteomyelitis, a deep form of the disease. By its nature, it is secondary - the result of the neglected forms of panaritium launched above. Complication of infection due to untimely provision of medical care or its absence.
- Articular This is the name of serous-purulent inflammation of the joints of the metacarpus and fingers. The disease can be primary - deep wounds, injections, cuts reaching the joints. There are secondary forms - progressive cutaneous, subcutaneous or tendon panaritium. Spindle-shaped swelling of the finger, sharp disturbances in the functions of the interphalangeal joints are characteristic. Also, pathological mobility can be noted in the affected joint.
- Tendinous. It is considered the most severe form of the disease: the tendons themselves, tendon sheaths become inflamed, primary infection (through a deep cut or puncture) and secondary (advanced forms of cutaneous, subcutaneous panaritium) can occur. The patient experiences severe pain along the entire length of the tendon, which increases with flexion of the finger. It is impossible to completely straighten it with this form of panaritium. Urgent surgery is required. Otherwise, motor function may be lost due to tendon necrosis.
Stages of the disease
How to treat panaritium on the finger? Therapeutic measures must be started already at the first stage of the disease. In total, there are three of them:
- Infection Here pyogenic microflora gets into the soft tissues of the finger. The danger is that this is asymptomatic.
- Infiltration. The patient begins to notice unpleasant symptoms - pain, swelling of the soft tissues, redness, inflammation.
- The formation of an abscess. This is a purulent fusion of inflamed tissues with the formation of abscesses (purulent cavities).
Conservative (drug) treatment is carried out only in the first two stages. The third already needs surgery. Therefore, the treatment of panaritium in a child on a toe or arm should begin immediately - when you just noticed an inflamed wound.
Symptoms
Panaritium is recognized by the following symptoms:
- Sharp throbbing pains in the affected finger. They intensify at night, with pressure on the wound, with finger movements.
- Redness, swelling, local increase in temperature of the affected area of the body.
- An increase in nearby lymph nodes.
- General malaise.
- A slight increase in body temperature in general.
Directions of treatment
How to treat panaritium on a finger or toe? Therapy depends on the stage of the disease. On the first and second, conservative treatment is allowed - with the help of antibacterial drugs. An urgent surgical operation is required at the suppuration stage.
All treatment methods can be divided into the following areas:
- Home treatment.
- Drug therapy.
- Auxiliary treatment.
- Surgical intervention.
Consider them.
Home treatment
How to treat panaritium on the finger? If you just found an inflamed wound, then you can resort to such first aid:
- Baths with decoctions of medicinal herbs having an anti-inflammatory effect - chamomiles, calendula, series.
- Baths with a solution of salt and soda. They reduce the signs of inflammation, prevent the formation of inflammatory fluid, in which pyogenic microflora multiplies.
- Dressing with "Levomekol" or Vishnevsky ointment. How to treat panaritium on the big toe? You can use these kinds of dressings - do them for the night. Similar remedies are effective at the stage of abscess.
Make sure that the temperature of the water in the baths is not higher than room temperature - a too warm liquid promotes more active reproduction of pathogenic microflora. Cold compresses can also be used to neutralize pain.
Drug therapy
How to treat panaritium on the toe or arm? The surest way is to see a therapist or surgeon. At the first stages of the disease, the doctor will prescribe effective medications for you:
- Cephalosporins of the first generation.
- Penicillin preparations active against staphylococci. In particular, Methicillin, Oxacillin.
Medicines are prescribed in the form of intramuscular, intravenous infections. The duration of the course of therapy is 7-10 days.
How to treat panaritium on the finger? In the absence of the proper effect, "Biseptol", "Doxycycline", "Clindamycin" are additionally prescribed. If the disease has developed due to injury, tetanus toxoid is administered. In the case of an animal bite - a rabies vaccine.
How to treat panaritium on a child’s finger? Children are additionally prescribed physiotherapy. In particular, electrophoresis with sodium chloride.
Auxiliary treatment
How to treat panaritium on a finger at home? With the permission of your attending physician, you can refer, in addition to the main therapy, to the following folk remedies:
- Applying dressings with pulp from the pulp of aloe leaves at night.
- Dressings for a wound with boiled onions.
- Applying dressings with garlic pulp, which has an antibacterial effect.
- Compresses with tincture of propolis, which simultaneously has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
Surgical intervention
How to treat panaritium on the toe? In advanced cases, an operation is needed. The subcutaneous, cutaneous felon is opened with a disinfected scalpel. The instrument cleans the subcutaneous tissue from inflamed tissue. If the purulent process is localized under the nail, then the abscess is opened with medical instruments on both sides, threaded through gauze turunda, left for several days. It provides a drain of pus and protects against relapse.
Tendon, bone, articular forms of the disease require treatment in a hospital, in the department of purulent surgery. Autopsy, cleaning here are carried out regularly. In addition, the patient is prescribed drug therapy - immunomodulators, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory steroid drugs, vitamins.
Panaritium is a fairly serious disease that begins with a harmless inflamed wound on the finger. It requires the timely start of treatment at an early stage. Ignoring the symptoms leads to irreversible consequences - gangrene and amputation of the finger.