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Case Reports
. 2009 Winter;17(4):133-5.
doi: 10.1177/229255030901700415.

Seal finger: A case report and review of the literature

Colin P White  1 , David D Jewer
Affiliations
Case Reports

Seal finger: A case report and review of the literature

Colin P White et al. Can J Plast Surg. 2009 Winter.

Abstract
in English, French

A recent case of seal finger which was misdiagnosed and hence mistreated at the patient's first presentation is described. The patient was eventually referred to a hand specialist and after the correct treatment with tetracycline, responded well without any long-term sequelae. Seal finger is an occupational injury that occurs to those who work directly or indirectly with seals. The disease entity has been described in both Scandinavian and Canadian literature. The causative microorganism was unknown until 1991, when Mycoplasma phocacerebrale was isolated from both the finger of a patient with seal finger and from the mouth of a seal that bit the patient. Although rare, the disease is not uncommon in marine workers, biologists and veterinarians. Prompt identification based on patient history and treatment with oral tetracycline is pendant to a favourable patient outcome.

On décrit ici un cas récent de monoarthrite marine (ou seal finger) qui a été mal diagnostiqué et donc traité erronément lors de la première consultation du patient. Le patient a éventuellement été adressé vers un spécialiste de la main et après un traitement adéquat par tétracycline, il a bien répondu, sans séquelles à long terme. La monoarthrite marine est une maladie professionnelle qui affecte ceux qui travaillent directement ou indirectement avec des phoques. Cette entité clinique a été décrite dans la littérature scandinave et canadienne. On ignorait quel en était l’agent causal jusqu’en 1991, alors que Mycoplasma phocacerebrale a été isolé au niveau du doigt d’un patient atteint de la maladie et de la bouche d’un phoque qui l’avait mordu. Bien que peu fréquente, la maladie n’est pas rare chez les travailleurs, les biologistes et les vétérinaires de la mer. L’identification rapide fondée sur l’histoire du patient et un traitement par tétracycline orale donnent de bons résultats chez les patients.

Keywords: Case report; Mycoplasma phocacerebrale; Seal finger; Sealer’s finger; Tetracycline.

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Figures

Figure 1)
Figure 1)
Dorsal surface of right hand showing outlined erythematous area extending to wrist
Figure 2)
Figure 2)
Dorsal surface of right hand showing resolution of erythema after treatment with tetracycline
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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