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Abstract
The people of Newfoundland continue to make a living from the ocean, and the seal hunt is an occupation and source of livelihood for Newfoundlanders in many rural areas of the province. Occupational injuries have always been associated with this fishery. We present a case of sealer's finger (or seal Finger) that was recently seen at a hospital in rural Newfoundland. This condition is known as "Spekk-finger" or "blubber-finger" in Norwegian literature. Sealer's finger is a severe finger infection observed in sealers, who can acquire the infection by accidentally cutting themselves with a knife used to clean seal carcasses or by contact of seal pelts to small breaks in the skin of the hand. Delay of diagnosis or treatment of sealer's finger can result in permanent stiffness or loss of the affected finger. The disease progresses from a cellulitis, to arthritis with eventual joint dissolution and healing by ankylosis.1 Because of improved access to health care these severe side effects are not often seen. In the historical setting, it was, however, often the case, as sealers on ships at sea were isolated from medical resources and adequate treatment. The causative bacterial agent is presumed to enter the finger through small cuts in the skin, and the symptoms may develop after an incubation period varying from 3 to 21 days.2 We present this case as a reminder that this occupational disease continues to exist.
Case reports show that a delay in appropriate treatment due to lack of awareness by primary care physicians of sealer's finger, can lead to unnecessary loss of function due to permanent stiffness.5 Our recommendations for the prevention of sealer's finger include education of the condition among seal fishers and ships' officers having an adequate supply of antibiotics on board to treat the condition at sea, after telephone contact to a physician. Pelt handlers should use gloves and ensure adequate dressing and treatment of all minor flesh wounds on the hands, to help prevent acquisition of sealer's finger.