Drug injection injuries of the hands: evaluation and treatment

Twenty-six patients with hand infections caused by drug injection were seen at Detroit General Hospital between 1974 and 1976 and were followed up. The duration of drug abuse was 2 to 25 years. The time before the patient sought medical help ranged from three days to 20 weeks. Among the 26 patients were three webspace infections, three finger abscesses, four gangrene of distal phalanx, nine cellulitis and abscess, one ulceration of the thenar eminence, and two ulcerations of the volar aspect. Follow-up was difficult due to unreliability of drug addicts.