Polymicrobial pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis of the index finger and first ray resulting from autophagia

Andrew P Harris; Joey Johnson; Augusta Kluk; Neill Y Li; Avi D Goodman; Edward Akelman

doi:10.1016/j.jor.2017.06.014

Polymicrobial pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis of the index finger and first ray resulting from autophagia

J Orthop. 2017 Jun 30;14(3):403-405. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2017.06.014. eCollection 2017 Sep.

Authors

Andrew P Harris¹, Joey Johnson¹, Augusta Kluk¹, Neill Y Li¹, Avi D Goodman¹, Edward Akelman¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Orthopaedics,Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.

Abstract

Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (PFT) is a well known infectious condition of the hand, involving the inoculation of the flexor tendon sheath with microorganisms. Many cases have been reported, common causes including direct inoculation by a puncture wound and deep lacerations extending into the flexor tendon sheath. In this report, we present a case of a 50 year old female with PFT resulting from autophagia (consuming one's own body parts, in our case, fingers) successfully treated with irrigation and debridement, amputation of the index finger at the metacarpophalangeal joint and antibiotic therapy.

Keywords: Autophagia; Bite; Digit; Finger; Flexor; Infection; PFT; Polymicrobial; Sheath; Tenosynovitis.