Arch Hand Microsurg.  2020 Dec;25(4):292-296. 10.12790/ahm.20.0061.

Case of Treatment of Snakebite on Finger with Topical Oxygen Therapy

• Choi HJ
• Lee DW
• Ryu HR
• Kim JH
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2508943
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12790/ahm.20.0061

Abstract

Snakebites, though uncommon, are a potentially serious cause of disability or death. Local symptoms may include pain, edema, or ecchymosis that may progress to skin necrosis or compartment syndrome. This study explores the case of a 4-year-old male patient bitten by a snake on the distal volar aspect of his left ring finger. On physical examination, there were moderate swelling, hemobullae formation, and the skin necrosis was progressing on middle phalanx of ring finger. Fasciotomy and topical oxygen therapy was performed. The topical oxygen therapy (TOT) was started once a day for 90 minutes with 4 L/minute of oxygen flow. TOT is a method of delivering humidified oxygen directly to the wound bed to support the healing of chronic and hypoxic wounds. There is no report on TOT for snakebite injury. In this report, we would like to report on the clinical experience of early surgery and adjuvant TOT with literary consideration.

Keyword

Snakebites; Topical; Oxygen therapy; Adjuvant

Figure

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  Fig. 1. (A, B) Preoperative finding. Moderate swelling and skin necrosis were observed. (C, D) Findings of postoperative day 10. The swelling was subsided and epithelization was progressed.

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  Fig. 2. Intraoperative finding. Fasciotomy and negative pressure wound therapy was performed.

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  Fig. 3. The image of topical oxygen therapy. Wound was sealed with aseptic fluid bag which can be connected with an oxygen cannula. The fluid bag expanded in balance with the external pressure of 1 atmosphere.

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