OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER
- 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
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
A felon is an infection of the soft tissue (pulp) of the fingertip, usually caused by bacteria.
Topic Resources
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.
Felon
Image courtesy of David R. Steinberg, MD.
The doctor makes the diagnosis of felon by examining the affected finger.
(See also Overview of Hand Disorders.)
Treatment of Felon
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.
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