Hand Injuries or Infection Referrals

If in the Swansea Health Board and suspecting a upper limb injury. Please assess the patient to make sure the patient is stable. 

​

Urgent referrals are flexor sheath infections which the signs are:-

​

• Fusiform swelling (Sausage like swelling of the entire digit)

• Finger held in slight flexion

• Significant pain on passive extension of the digit

• Tenderness on palpation along the flexor sheath

​

Necrotising Fasciitis

​

• Unwell patient

• Dark purple patches of the skin

• Quickly spreading cellulitis within hours

• Crepitus under the skin

• Necrosis of the skin

• Severe pain

​

​

​

​