[Buruli ulcer--necrotizing infection of the hand of a plastic surgeon].

The Buruli ulcer is caused by mycobacterium ulcerans. The clinical features of this atypical mycobacteriosis are similar to tuberculosis. Differentiation is only possible by microbiological investigation. In cases of chronic soft tissue infections mycobacteriosis must be taken into consideration. Since microbiological differentiation needs 8-12 weeks and chemotherapy is not effective, early and wide surgical excision is the treatment of choice.