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 What is felon? Literal translation of the Latin word panaricium - nail eater. Currently, this term refers to acute purulent inflammation of the tissues of the finger.
At the same time, the finger swells, its skin acquires a pinkish-red hue, pulling, incessant pain deprives of sleep, sometimes the body temperature rises. In some cases, an abscess is visible on the skin, covered with a thin, flabby film.
As a rule, panaritium is the result of minor wounds, abrasions of the skin of the finger or nail bed. The infection (most often streptococci and staphylococci) penetrates through a small wound. Depending on where the process develops, they distinguish between cutaneous, nail, subcutaneous, tendon, bone, articular forms of the disease. More often than others, there is a subcutaneous panaritium of the terminal phalanx.
 To understand more clearly how this disease arises, what is its danger, one should at least in general terms consider the anatomical structure of the human hand. Why an infection brought under the skin with a splinter can lead to tendon felon?
The fact is that on the palmar side of the hand, a rather thick layer of subcutaneous tissue is permeated with fibrous bundles that end in the phalanges of the fingers. Therefore, the subcutaneous tissue of the pulp of the finger has a cellular structure. If an infection gets into a wound or scratch, it will spread vertically, in depth, towards a tendon, joint or bone.
Each tendon is surrounded on all sides by a thin and dense sheath - a tendon sheath. An inflammatory process can also develop here. The tendon sheaths of the thumb and little finger, continuing on the forearm, communicate with each other. This is why sometimes the inflammatory process from the thumb spreads to the little finger. This does not happen on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers, their tendon sheaths end in blind bags.
With suppuration of the tendon sheaths, the tumor appears primarily in the area of the joints. This is due to the fact that the tendon sheaths are strengthened by ligaments that have unequal strength throughout their length. They are especially durable on the phalanges of the fingers, and in the places where the joints are located, they are thinner, here, first of all, suppuration develops. The accumulating exudate, first serous and then purulent, squeezes the vessels feeding the tendon, and its necrosis occurs. If the necessary measures are not taken within 36-48 hours, the finger function cannot be maintained.
The inflammation spreads to the subcutaneous tissue of the hand and can cause one of the severe complications of panaritium - phlegmon. Blood vessels are clogged with purulent blood clots, gangrene often develops - necrosis of individual phalanges of the fingers. In advanced cases, in order to save the patient's life, sometimes they resort to at least - amputation of the fingers. These are the dire consequences that a small wound, a scratch, a common burr can lead to!
 Fearing surgery, many try to cope with panaritium on their own, but, as a rule, unsuccessfully. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor in the first hours of illness.
It is not difficult to prevent the development of felon. It is only necessary not to ignore any, even minor, damage to the skin of the hand and especially fingers. Scratches, abrasions, cracks should be immediately lubricated with iodine, brilliant green and bandaged with a sterile bandage. You need to be especially on your guard when a splinter or metal filings has gotten under the skin. If the pain persists after three to four hours after the injury to your finger, see your doctor.
The habit of biting nails and biting off burrs is ugly and dangerous. They should be carefully cut off with disinfected scissors without damaging the periungual roller.
For those who are fond of sewing or knitting, I advise you to use thimbles, fingertips to protect your fingers from damage and penetration of microbes into the wound.
Yu.M. Maksimov
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