Open AccessTropical diabetes hand syndrome with autoamputation of the digits: case report and review of literature
Author(s) -
Taiwo Hussean Raimi,
Oluwole Ojo Alese
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the pan african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.287
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 1937-8688
DOI - 10.11604/pamj.2014.18.199.3593
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , gangrene , cellulitis , fulminant , complication , sepsis , surgery , diabetic ketoacidosis , presentation (obstetrics) , tropical disease , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , disease , endocrinology
The tropical diabetes hand syndrome is a complication affecting patients with diabetes mellitus in the tropics, and consists of localized cellulitis, swelling and ulceration of the hands which may progress to fulminant sepsis and gangrene of the whole limb. It is associated with a poor outcome. We report a 32 year old woman with tropical diabetes hand infection with autoamputation of the digits, review the relevant literature, and highlight the need for prevention and early hospital presentation in diabetics with hand infection, in order to prevent potentially crippling or fatal complications.