Paronychia (Nail Infection)

By admin On Feb 18, 2024

Ovid: 5-Minute Orthopaedic Consult

Editors: Frassica, Frank J.; Sponseller, Paul D.; Wilckens, John H.

Title: 5-Minute Orthopaedic Consult, 2nd Edition

> Table of Contents > Paronychia (Nail Infection)

Paronychia (Nail Infection)

Dawn M. LaPorte MD

Marc Urquhart MD

Basics

Description

Paronychia is an infection of the radial or ulnar margins of the nails (lateral fold) of the hand (Fig. 1).

General Prevention

Keep the nail clean and appropriately trimmed.
Use gloves for work and washing.
Avoid nail biting.

Epidemiology

Incidence

It is the most common infection in the hand (1–3).
Affects all ages

Risk Factors

Nail-biting
Manicures
Diabetes

Etiology

Typically secondary to the introduction of Staphylococcus aureus under the nail fold
May be related to a hangnail, biting the nail edge, or manicure instrumentation

Fig. 1. Swelling along the nail. There may or may not be pus coming from the involved area.

Associated Conditions

Eponychia:
- Location: In the periungual tissue at the proximal nail bed (Fig. 2)
- Treatment (similar to that of paronychia):
  - Incise with a scalpel.
  - Insert small clamp into the abscess and open the inflammatory pocket.
  - Gram stain, culture, and antibiotics.
Felons:
- Location: Pulp of the finger
- Treatment:
  - Incise and drain with a lateral incision down to the bone.
  - Spread the tissues with a clamp to disrupt the fibrous septa.
  - Gram stain, culture, and antibiotics
Subungual abscess:
- Location: Beneath the nail
- Treatment:
  - Administer an adequate digital block.
  - Remove the nail plate and nail.
  - Obtain a specimen for Gram stain and culture.
  - Irrigate and gently débride any purulent material.
  - Replace the nail and nail fold with nonadherent gauze.
  - 1 dose of intravenous antistaphylococcal antibiotics, followed by a 10–14-day course of penicillin or erythromycin.
  - Follow-up as in paronychia is indicated.
    
    Fig. 2. Infection spreading along the nail bed.

Diagnosis

Signs and Symptoms

Redness and swelling on the side of the nail fold with pain
Possibly becoming fluctuant with discharge

Physical Exam

Examine for infection below the nail plate or in the finger pulp.

Tests

Lab

Lab tests are not needed unless the infection is aggressive and is spreading.

Imaging

Imaging is not necessary unless the nail infection is chronic, aggressive, unresponsive to treatment, or related to trauma.

Pathological Findings

Typically, these infections are caused by S. aureus.
Changes consistent with acute inflammation are noted.

Differential Diagnosis

Eponychia
Felons
Subungual abscess
Tumor or cyst

P.307

Treatment

General Measures

Early diagnosis: If there is erythema without an abscess, then treat with oral antibiotics and warm, soapy soaks.
Abscess:
- If an abscess has formed:
  - Use a digital block with local anesthetic.
  - Immediately drain with a scalpel.
  - Send purulent material for Gram stain and culture.
  - Remove the lateral 1/5 of the nail if necessary.
  - Irrigate the wound copiously with saline solution through an angiocatheter or needle
  - Pack the wound with nonadherent sterile gauze.
  - Initiate a 10–14-day course of empiric
    antibiotics: Synthetic penicillin is the drug of choice, or
    erythromycin for penicillin-allergic patients because S. aureus is the most common causative organism.
Chronic paronychia:
- Often occurs in patient populations exposed to water.
  - These patients often have concomitant
    fungal infections and should have a topical antifungal ointment or
    possibly an oral antifungal agent added to the regimen.

Medication

First Line

Synthetic penicillins are the drugs of choice.

Surgery

Eponychial marsupialization is the most common surgical treatment for chronic paronychia (4,5).
Consideration should be given to nail removal, particularly in the presence of a nail deformity.

Follow-up

Prognosis

The prognosis is good, with appropriate care.

Complications

Progressive infection may require more aggressive treatment if it involves the pulp of the finger or extends into the bone.

Patient Monitoring

Reevaluate within 48 hours of initial treatment to ensure that treatment is effective.

References

1. Brown DM, Young VL. Hand infections. South Med J 1993;86:56–66.

2. Canales FL, Newmeyer WL, III, Kilgore ES, Jr. The treatment of felons and paronychias. Hand Clin 1989;5:515–523.

3. Flynn JE. Modern considerations of major hand infections. N Engl J Med 1955;252:605–612.

4. Baran R, Bureau H. Surgical treatment of recalcitrant chronic paronychias of the fingers. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1981;7:106–107.

5. Bednar MS, Lane LB. Eponychial marsupialization and nail removal for surgical treatment of chronic paronychia. J Hand Surg 1991;16A:314–317.

Additional Reading

Stevanovic MV, Sharpe F. Acute infections in the hand. In: Green DP, Hotchkiss RN, Pederson WC, et al., eds. Green’s Operative Hand Surgery, 5th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2005:55–93.

Miscellaneous

Codes

ICD9-CM

681.02 Paronychia (finger)
681.9 Paronychia with lymphangitis
681.9 Subungual abscess
757.5 Eponychia

Patient Teaching

Prevention

Avoid nail-biting
Appropriate care of hang-nails

FAQ

Q: What is the treatment for early presentation of a paronychia?

A:
Early infections can be addressed nonsurgically with oral antibiotics
and soaks 2–3 times daily in warm water and dilute Betadine.

Q: Is chronic paronychia treated in the same way as an acute infection?

A:
No. Chronic paronychia is a distinctly different clinical problem and
is best managed with surgery with eponychial marsupialization in
conjunction with oral antibiotics (if cultures are positive) and
possibly antifungal medication.