Pasteurella Multocida tenosynovitis of the flexor pollicis longus caused by a rabbit bone wound

Abstract

A 29-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department with a painful thumb, feverredness, and swelling and limited function. Five days before he was wounded with a rabbitbone. He was given amoxicillin-clavulanate with a lack of improvement. He was admitted forhospitalization and an ultrasound confirmed tenosynovitis as well as subcutaneous edema, sosurgical debridement was performed. Cultures were positive to Pasteurella multocida.Hospital stay was 9 days, and he continued oral antibiotic for 10 days after discharge. Fourmonths postoperatively, the patient had complete function and didn’t show evidence ofrecurrence. To conclude, rapidly developing cellulitis, tenosynovitis, fever and drainage fromhand wounds after a cat or dog bites should suggest Pasteurella multocida infection.However, P. multocida tenosynovitis can be also produced after a rabbit bone wound.Absence of response after 24-48 of antibiotic treatment, especially if cellulitis has progressedto tenosynovitis, is an indication for surgery.