Articles | Volume 8, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-8-119-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-8-119-2023
Original full-length article
 | 
30 Mar 2023
Original full-length article |  | 30 Mar 2023

Evaluating the utility of inflammatory markers in the diagnosis of soft tissue abscesses of the forearm and hand

Sarah R. Blumenthal, Adnan N. Cheema, Steven E. Zhang, Benjamin L. Gray, and Nikolas H. Kazmers

Related subject area

Subject: Hand infections | Topic: All topics
Chronic Q fever presenting as bilateral extensor tenosynovitis: a case report and review of the literature
Kareme D. Alder, Anthony P. Fiegen, Matthew M. Rode, Don Bambino Geno Tai, Gina A. Suh, Abinash Virk, and Nicholas Pulos
J. Bone Joint Infect., 8, 39–44, https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-8-39-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/jbji-8-39-2023, 2023
Short summary

Cited articles

Bishop, G. B., Born, T., Kakar, S., and Jawa, A.: The diagnostic accuracy of inflammatory blood markers for purulent flexor tenosynovitis, J. Hand Surg. Am., 38, 2208–2211, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2013.08.094, 2013. 
Foglar, C. and Lindsey, R. W.: C-reactive protein in orthopedics, Orthopedics, 21, 687–691, https://doi.org/10.3928/0147-7447-19980601-11, 1998. 
Fowler, J. R. and Ilyas, A. M.: Epidemiology of adult acute hand infections at an urban medical center, J. Hand. Surg. Am., 38, 1189–1193, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2013.03.013, 2013. 
Gauger, E. M., Mitchell, P. M., Halverson, S. J., O'Neill, D. E., Reasoner, K., Desai, M. J., and Lee, D. H.: Acute-phase reactants in operatively treated upper extremity infections: a retrospective review, Hand (N Y), 16, 546–550, https://doi.org/10.1177/1558944719873147, 2021. 
Glass, K. D.: Factors related to the resolution of treated hand infections, J. Hand Surg. Am., 7, 388–394, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0363-5023(82)80150-0, 1982. 
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Short summary
Upper extremity abscesses frequently present to the acute care setting with inconclusive physical examination and imaging findings. This study sought to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of various serum inflammatory markers that are commonly used in the diagnosis of other types of infections. Results demonstrated that C-reactive-protein, an acute phase inflammatory marker, is the most sensitive test, but it is the least specific.