Citation

Goon PK, Mahmoud M, Rajaratnam V. Eur. J. Trauma Emerg. Surg. 2008; 34(2): 135-140.

Affiliation

Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Selly Oak, University Birmingham Hospital, Birmingham, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00068-007-6183-9

PMID

26815618

Abstract

Clench fist or fight bite injuries are associated with some of the worst types of infective complications but their mechanism is often poorly understood. In a retrospective case series, 34 patients seen between 1998 and 2004 presented to a local hand surgery unit with confirmed human bite hand injuries. Seventy-six percent presented with infective complications with a mean delay in presentation of 4 days. Eighty percent of patients were clench fist injuries (CFI) (open joints in 59% and tendon injuries in 63%). Using an aggressive treatment policy including early surgical and antibiotic intervention, most patients achieved good results functionally (full range of movement was achieved in 83% of those with CFI which completed follow-up (44%)). High rates of non-compliance and incomplete follow-up was noted. Major long-term complications including limited range of movement and osteomyelitis was low and suggests the policy of prompt and comprehensive surgical and medical intervention is the optimal treatment option. A brief but in-depth discussion of the specific anatomical pitfalls is included.

Language: en