2 Days Of Worsening in Surgery — 28yo Woman | General Surgery | SMLE Q#17747
SMLE Question #17747
Surgery
General Surgery
Objective: OBJ-TRACH-EMERG-01
Last updated: February 2026
A 28-year-old female hairdresser presents to the emergency department with 2 days of worsening throbbing pain and swelling of the pulp of her right thumb after a puncture injury from a salon tool. She reports difficulty gripping objects. Examination shows a tense, erythematous, very tender swelling of the distal finger pad with fluctuance confined to the pulp space. The nail plate and nail bed are intact, and there is no swelling limited to the lateral nail fold. Which diagnosis best explains her condition?
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