Necrosis on the finger

Similarly as with the toes and feet, also the fingers of the human being lie very remotely to the body-center. Therefore, they are also particularly prone to necrosis. Hypothermia and frostbite also play an important role here.

The vessels that supply the fingers with blood and oxygen have a small diameter and are therefore particularly sensitive. In addition to diabetes, which plays a major role especially in the legs and feet, smoking is a risk factor for necrosis of the fingers. Smoking reduces the blood flow in various ways and in the long term leads to necrosis of the extremities. More rarely, other circulatory disorders, such as “Raynaud’s syndrome“, can also be responsible for necrotic fingers.

Aseptic necrosis

“Aseptic” refers to the absence of septic factors such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and prions. Aseptic necrosis can therefore occur in all aseptic parts of the body. In medicine, however, aseptic necrosis is a kind of umbrella term for bone necrosis, which is usually caused by a reduction in blood flow.Possible causes are long-term therapies with cortisone or bisphosphonates, chemotherapy, radiation, work in compressed air areas, sickle cell anaemia, Gaucher’s disease or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The blood vessels supplying the bone become constricted or blocked and the bone dies. Typical symptoms are pain and restricted mobility. Bone necrosis is classified into different degrees of severity and the medical name of the necrosis depends strongly on the affected bone section.

Muscle necrosis

A distinction is made between ischemic and iatrogenic muscle necrosis. Ischemia is a state of oxygen deficiency in the tissue. In ischemic muscle necrosis, the blood vessels supplying the muscles are usually blocked or damaged.

The oxygen deficiency in the muscle can lead to a so-called compartment syndrome. The swelling of the cells leads to a narrowing of the muscles within the fascia. As a result, further vessels are pinched off and severe pain develops. Iatrogenic muscle necrosis can result from intramuscular injections.