Results of the treatment of phlegmon of Streptococcus pyogenes aetiology within upper limbs

Phlegmon is a purulent infection which spreads in loose connective tissue. It occurs most commonly in the limbs as a complication of other local infections. Untreated or inadequately treated infections in the skin of the fingers or hands are susceptible to phlegmon. In most cases, the infecting organism is Staphylococcus aureus. This article reports 7 cases of phlegmon involving upper limbs, caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes organism. The course of these types of infection are more serious, and the range of tissue damage greater, than those caused by staphylococci. This article presents the causes of the phlegmon, the methods and course of management, and the results of these. The principles of surgical management include wide incisions in the skin and an evacuation of pus and necrotic tissue debris. The skin is then sealed with stitches or a skin graft once the wound is clean. Of the 7 treated patients, 1 died in the intensive care unit due to sepsis and mutli-organ failure and 1 patient lost his all fingers due to necrosis. The authors believe that it is desirable that doctors working in emergency units and surgical admission rooms should be familiar with the basic rules of diagnosing and managing these potentially life-threatening or hand crippling disease