Hand deep space infection

Background

• Volar surface contains potential deep spaces that may become infected
• Dorsal aspect contains the veins and lymphatics; will always swell whenever there is an inflammatory process

Clinical Features

• Tenderness, induration, or fluctuance over volar aspect of hand
• Pain with range of motion of digits

Differential Diagnosis

Hand and finger infections

• Bed bugs
• Closed fist infection (Fight Bite)
• Hand cellulitis
• Hand deep space infection
• Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
• Herpetic whitlow
• Felon
• Flexor tenosynovitis
• Paronychia
• Scabies
• Sporotrichosis

Look-Alikes

• Digital mixoid cyst

Management

• Parenteral antibiotics
• Hand surgeon consult

See Also

• Hand Infection