RT Book, Section A1 Reichman, Eric F. SR Print(0) ID 57711577 T1 Chapter 108. Felon Incision and Drainage T2 Emergency Medicine Procedures, 2e YR 2013 FD 2013 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-161352-1 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57711577 RD 2024/03/29 AB A felon is a subcutaneous infection or abscess in the pulp space on the volar surface of the distal phalanx. It is usually caused by penetrating trauma, an abrasion, spread from adjacent tissues (e.g., eponychium, osteomyelitis, or paronychia), or a minor cut with invasion of bacteria. A felon can also develop in the presence of a foreign body, such as a wood splinter or a thorn.1 It can be iatrogenic from multiple fingersticks for glucose determination.2 The offending organism is usually Staphylococcus aureus. Mixed infections and gram-negative infections may occur in the immunocompromised patient. A felon can less commonly occur on the toes. The information in this chapter can be applied to a felon of the finger or the toe.