Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2025

Polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE as a Suture Material in Tendon Surgery
09:13

Polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE as a Suture Material in Tendon Surgery

Published on: October 6, 2022

3.1K

Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis resulting from a fingerstick glucose test

Peter J Sobraske1, Grant Gerstner1, Brit Long1

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|March 4, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (FTS) is a severe infection. Early identification by emergency physicians is crucial to prevent complications like tendon rupture and sepsis, even after minor trauma such as a fingerstick glucose test.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Emergency Medicine

Background:

  • Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (FTS) is a bacterial infection of the flexor tendon sheath.
  • It progresses rapidly and can lead to severe complications if not treated promptly.
  • Early diagnosis is critical for emergency physicians to prevent adverse outcomes.

Observation:

  • A case of FTS occurred in an 82-year-old immunocompetent female.
  • The infection developed approximately 48 hours after a routine fingerstick glucose test.
  • The fingerstick trauma served as the entry point for bacterial seeding.

Findings:

  • The study reports a case of FTS initiated by a minor traumatic event (fingerstick).
  • This highlights that even seemingly innocuous procedures can lead to serious infections.
  • The rapid progression of FTS underscores the need for vigilance in emergency settings.

Implications:

  • Emergency physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for FTS in patients presenting with hand infections, regardless of the apparent cause.
  • Prompt recognition and management of FTS can prevent devastating complications, including tendon rupture, digit necrosis, and sepsis.
  • This case emphasizes the importance of considering FTS even in immunocompetent individuals following minor trauma.
Keywords:
AntibioticsDrainageFlexor tenosynovitisIncisionInfectious diseaseOrthopedicssepsis

More Related Videos

Strain Sensing Based on Multiscale Composite Materials Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets09:38

Strain Sensing Based on Multiscale Composite Materials Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets

Published on: November 7, 2016

8.7K
Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test OGTT and Insulin Tolerance Test ITT08:13

Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test OGTT and Insulin Tolerance Test ITT

Published on: January 7, 2018

67.7K

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
2.1K
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
149
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications01:15

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is...
495
Glucose Transporters01:27

Glucose Transporters

Glucose transporters facilitate the transport of glucose across the cell membrane. In addition to glucose, some glucose transporters can also aid the movement of other hexoses such as fructose, mannose, and galactose.
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
22.3K
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
2.3K