AIM: Because of the low prevalence, there is poor evidence on the effective management of @entity79 of the carpus and metacarpus. We therefore studied the outcomes of @entity1 undergoing surgical treatment at our department. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective study on all @entity1 operated on because of @entity4034 of the carpus and metacarpus between January 1998 and June 2004. Main study endpoint were the infection control rate at end of treatment and at time of follow-up. RESULTS: Of eleven subjects (nine @entity1 , two @entity1 ) with a median age of 43 years (range, 19 to 79 years) serial d  bridement with temporary wound closure and surgical fixation proved successful in ten cases. We identified causative pathogens in ten cases ( @entity794 : n = 3, @entity796 : n = 3, mixed: n = 4) by intraoperative biopsy. Eight subjects received local or free tissue flaps. A 73 year old @entity1 died in hospital. Follow-up information was available for eight @entity1 after a median of 19.5 months (range: 3 to 61 months). Seven of them did not show signs of recurrent infection. CONCLUSION: Adhering to accepted standards of treating @entity4034 , satisfactory control rates in carpal and metacarpal infection can be achieved while salvaging the hand.

[ XXXX of the carpus and metacarpus].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients', 'man', 'men'] @entity796 :: ('287', 'Species') :: ['P. aeruginosa'] @entity4034 :: ('MESH:D010019', 'Disease') :: ['osteomyelitis'] @entity794 :: ('1280', 'Species') :: ['S. aureus'] @entity79 :: ('MESH:D001847', 'Disease') :: ['bone and joint infections']
@entity4034 :: (MESH:D010019,Disease) :: ['Osteomyelitis']
