Dactylitis
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Dactylitis is a rarely used term for inflammation of the fingers involving soft tissues and bones, most commonly referring to syphilitic dactylitis of the phalanges. Inflammations around the nails are classified separately as onychia, and purulent infections of the fingers as whitlow.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
DACTYLITIS, dactylitis (from the Greek dactylos - finger), inflammation of the finger, a rarely used term to designate inflammatory processes in the soft tissues and bone skeleton of the fingers of various etiology, pathogenesis, and localization. Most commonly, the term syphilitic dactylitis (dactylitis syphilitica) is used, specifically in relation to a specific lesion of the phalangeal bones of the osteochondritis type. Regarding inflammatory conditions in the nail region, see Onychia; regarding phlegmonous inflammation of the skin of the fingers, subcutaneous tissue, periosteum, and nail bed, see Whitlow.
Related articles
Cite this page
“Dactylitis.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/dactylitis/