Symmetrical necrotising chest wall infection following paronychia

Necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall with a retropharyngeal abscess: case report and literature review

We herein report a case of a diabetic 49-year-old woman with anterior chest wall necrotizing fasciitis that caused a retropharyngeal abscess and discuss the literature surrounding necrotizing soft tissue infections of the chest wall. The patient was treated with serial wound debridements, antibiotic therapy, and percutaneous drainage and serial irrigation of the retropharyngeal abscess with a silicone catheter. The resulting defect was grafted with a split thickness skin graft.

Necrotizing soft tissue infection of the chest wall

Necrotizing soft tissue infection of the chest wall is a relatively rare but highly lethal surgical condition that has received little attention in the literature. The case of a 21-year-old female patient affected by this rare infection is reported. Our recent experience and literature data suggest that chest wall necrotizing soft tissue infection spreads rapidly and is highly lethal. High index of suspicion, early diagnosis, and aggressive approach are essential to its successful treatment.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall

Necrotizing fasciitis is a highly morbid soft tissue infection that rarely involves the upper torso. An extremely unusual case of necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall is reported, including the method by which an open thoracic cage was managed. This represents the second reported case of a patient surviving necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall requiring rib resection and chest wall reconstruction.