Which condition is suggested by fusiform swelling of a finger, pain on extension, and tenderness along the tendon sheath?

Study for the NPLEX II Minor Surgery Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, offering hints and explanations for each task. Master your exam confidently!

Multiple Choice

Which condition is suggested by fusiform swelling of a finger, pain on extension, and tenderness along the tendon sheath?

This presentation points to septic infection of the flexor tendon sheath, known as purulent tenosynovitis. The sausage-like swelling (fusiform swelling) comes from distension of the tendon sheath; pain on extension occurs because moving the finger stretches the inflamed sheath and triggers pain; tenderness along the tendon sheath shows the infection is following the tendon. Together, these signs are classic for a purulent infection within the tendon sheath and signal a surgical emergency. Immediate management typically involves prompt surgical drainage of the sheath and intravenous antibiotics to prevent further spread and complications. Other conditions like a felon (infection of the fingertip pad) or paronychia (infection around the nail fold) or osteomyelitis (bone infection) don’t produce this set of tendon-sheath–focused signs.

Which condition is suggested by fusiform swelling of a finger, pain on extension, and tenderness along the tendon sheath?

Study for the NPLEX II Minor Surgery Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, offering hints and explanations for each task. Master your exam confidently!

Which condition is suggested by fusiform swelling of a finger, pain on extension, and tenderness along the tendon sheath?

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