[Hand infections resulting from underestimation of minimal injuries].

Frequently, the timely onset of adequate treatment is delayed when a hand infection is the result of minor trauma. The patients as well as the physicians are tempted to underestimate this complication. To prove that certain forms of trauma correlate with the degree of underestimation, we have prospectively studied the cases of 105 patients who required hospitalisation and surgical interventions between 2001 and 2003. We defined a cut-off point at 48 hours following trauma and differentiated between patients who appeared within this period from those who came later. Lesions at the fingertips, superficial and punctual injuries were more frequent among patients belonging to the group with the longer delay of treatment onset. Also pain was more intense and swelling of axillary lymph nodes was seen in this group more often. Patients who had been treated elsewhere before, were commonly found in this group as well. Patients who came within 48 hours following trauma required less surgical procedures. Also hospitalisation was shorter. Using a discriminant analysis, we calculated a linear equation to calculate a score, which helps to assess the individual degree of underestimation. This scoring system can help to identify patients who would benefit from early surgical treatment of the hand.