[Stay away from surgery: ecthyma contagiosum]

15 patients with Orf's disease were evaluated. Seven out of 15 patients (Group 1) were treated surgically because of different diagnoses. Seven patients who were misdiagnosed and treated surgically (Group 1), and eight patients (Group 2) were followed conservatively. The aim of this study is to compare the treatment period of the misdiagnosed surgically treated (Group 1) group and conservatively treated group (Group 2). Lesions were aggravated and delayed healing was observed in Group 1. Diagnosis of Orf disease may sometimes be difficult because of concominant bacterial superinfections and surgical trauma. Careful history and clinical findings point to the correct diagnosis. Contrary to other infections of the hand, surgery can cause further complications in this disease. Conservative treatment is the gold standard, even in complicated cases.