Snakebite on the hand: lessons from two clinical cases illustrating difficulties of surgical indication

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: S Gras, G Plantefève, F Baud, JP Chippaux
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2012
• Subjects: snakebite; Africa; compartment syndrome; surgery; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992012000400019; https://doaj.org/article/5362701e4a4f4bb6a12810cb80e8b2f6

Snakebite is a particularly important health problem in rural areas of tropical regions. A large number of victims survive with permanent physical sequelae due to local tissue necrosis. However, necrosis may be associated with compartment syndrome especially when the bite is on the hands or feet. Herein, we describe two cases reported at a rural district hospital in Central African Republic. The present study suggests that active multidisciplinary management may improve patient prognosis while evidencing how difficult it is to decide on surgical intervention.