Abstract
1. A report is made of 1000 consecutive cases of infection of the hand treated in the hand clinic of the Surgical Department of the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
2. Standard lesions are given a standard treatment. The methods of treatment are described and the results are expressed according to the time to healing from first attendance at the clinic. An attempt was made to review those cases in which a disability of any sort was anticipated, and an assessment made with regard to appearance and function.
3. Many patients came to hospital at a late stage when skin necrosis had already occurred, and particular attention is paid to the management of this complication.
4. It is concluded that the principles of conservative surgery applied to the treatment of infected hands give good results.
