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Home /
Bone, Joint, and Muscle Disorders /
Hand Disorders /
... /
Felon /
IN THIS TOPIC

Treatment

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

Hand Disorders
Overview of Hand Disorders
Boutonnière Deformity
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
De Quervain Syndrome
Dupuytren Contracture
Felon
Ganglia
Hand Abscess
Hand Infections Caused By Bites
Herpetic Whitlow
Infection of the Tendon Sheath in the Fingers
Kienböck Disease
Osteoarthritis of the Hand
Radial Tunnel Syndrome
Swan-Neck Deformity
Trigger Finger

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

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Artificial Joint Infectious Arthritis
Joints that have been replaced (prosthetic joints) are more prone to infection than natural joints. Two-thirds of these infections develop within which time frame? 
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Felon

By

David R. Steinberg

, MD,

  • Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Director, Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship
  • Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Last full review/revision May 2020| Content last modified May 2020
Click here for the Professional Version
Topic Resources

A felon is an infection of the soft tissue (pulp) of the fingertip, usually caused by bacteria.

A felon can lead to a pocket of pus (abscess) inside the fingertip, which creates pressure on and causes death of nearby tissues. The fingertip becomes very warm, swollen, and firm with intense throbbing pain.

The doctor makes the diagnosis of felon by examining the affected finger.

(See also Overview of Hand Disorders.)

Treatment

  • Drainage of pus

  • Antibiotics

If a felon is not treated promptly, the underlying bone, joint, or tendons may become infected. Treatment of felon is prompt drainage of the pus. Doctors drain the pus through a surgical incision. Antibiotics are taken by mouth.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: Click here for the Professional Version
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© 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA)
Dupuytren Contracture
Ganglia
Others also read
Herpetic Whitlow Herpetic Whitlow
Infection of the Tendon Sheath in the Fingers Infection of the Tendon Sheath in the Fingers
Overview of Hand Disorders Overview of Hand Disorders

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