Early-Onset Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hand Following Digital Degloving Injury and Amputation: Case Report

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignancy that can arise in traumatized or chronically inflamed wounds. While late-onset SCCs associated with chronic wounds are well-documented, the early development of SCC originating from an amputation site or in the setting of chronic osteomyelitis warrants closer attention from clinicians. This report presents a patient with early-onset SCC in the hand, occurring within two years of a third-digit degloving injury and subsequent amputation. Case Presentation: The patient was a middle-aged man who underwent third-digit amputation following a degloving injury. His postoperative course was complicated by intermittent discharge from the amputation site and delayed medical management due to noncompliance with follow-up care. Two years after the initial injury and amputation, he presented with a large exophytic mass involving the second digit and radial aspect of the hand. Surgical management included excision of the mass and ray amputation of the second and third metacarpals. Histopathological examination confirmed a well-differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with concurrent osteomyelitis. Conclusions: This case underscores the potential for early-onset SCC in previously traumatized and chronically inflamed skin. It further highlights the critical importance of vigilant monitoring and timely intervention for patients with SCC of the hand as the progression can be relatively fast.