The history of hand infections.

Abstract

The current approach to hand infections is a culmination of information gained from centuries of medical teaching by the ancient Greeks, nineteenth-century anatomists, and twentieth-century microbiologists and surgeons. Although many individuals have contributed to our knowledge through their teachings and writings, the contemporary treatment of hand infections has evolved quite rapidly. Several landmark scientific discoveries have drastically changed not only the manner in which hand infections are treated, but the ultimate clinical results obtained. This brief review of the history of hand infections highlights the major contributions that have influenced the contemporary medical and surgical approach to infections of the hand.