Hand Case 11 Background

Fight Bite

Human bites are at significant risk for infection. Eikenella corrodens is the most well-known pathogen, but most infections are actually polymicrobial. Lacerations over the MCP joint (knuckle) from a punch to the mouth are at especially high risk for infection, tenosynovitis, osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis if not treated aggressively. It is thought that relaxation of the fist upon impact with the other person's mouth, allows organisms to get into the deep tissues or MCP joint capsule.