Patient Information Resources


Orthopedic Services
Glendale Adventist Medical Center
1509 Wilson Terrace
Glendale, CA 91206
Ph: (818) 409-8000






Ankle
Elbow
Foot
Fractures
General
Hand
Hip
Knee
Pain Management
Shoulder
Wrist

View Web RX

« Back

I am seeing a hand therapist after having surgery for a finger owie that turned bad on me. It was just a simple puncture wound but it got infected and I could no longer straighten my index finger. The hand therapist is pretty quiet about what to expect. I'm looking for any information you can provide about what to expect with these kinds of injuries.

Despite the small size of a finger infection, the medical consequences can be extreme. Anyone presenting with a red, tender or painful, swollen finger following trauma should be evaluated carefully. Treatment may begin with nonoperative care but must be quickly replaced with surgery if results are not seen within the first 24 to 48 hours. Since you are receiving hand therapy and having trouble straightening your finger, it sounds like you may have been initially treated for a flexor tendon sheath infection. Complications are always a possibility after any traumatic injury but especially after one that leads to a flexor tendon sheath infection. Adhesions, joint capsular thickening, and destruction of the tendon pulley system by the infection can leave you with a permanently stiff finger. Even without the more serious complications, up to one-fourth of all patients with flexor tendon sheath infections lose their ability to straighten the affected finger. Hand therapy to maximize finger motion is a good idea. Even with therapy and carrying out your home program every day faithfully, there is still a chance you might not regain your full finger motion. Studies show that anyone with diabetes is at increased risk for this type of infection and possibly a less than favorable result. Other risk factors include age over 43, kidney or peripheral vascular disease, loss of blood supply to the area, and multiple bacteria present at the same time.

References:

« Back





*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.


All content provided by eORTHOPOD® is a registered trademark of Mosaic Medical Group, L.L.C.. Content is the sole property of Mosaic Medical Group, LLC and used herein by permission.