• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.76-79
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• 2017

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an aggressive soft-tissue infection involving the deep fascia and is characterized by extensive deterioration of the surrounding tissue. Immediate diagnosis and intensive treatment, including debridement and systemic antibiotics, represent the most important factors influencing the survival of NF patients. In this report, we present a case of NF in the abdomen due to an infection caused by a perforated small bowel after abdominal liposuction. It was successfully treated using negative-pressure wound therapy, in which a silicone sheet functioned as a barrier between the sponge and internal organs to protect the small bowel.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.404-407
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• 2021

We present a case study of necrotizing fasciitis (NF), a very rare but dangerous complication of chest tube management. A 69-year-old man with shortness of breath underwent thoracostomy for chest tube placement and drainage with antibiotic treatment, followed by a computed tomography scan. He was diagnosed with thoracic empyema. Initially, a non-cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon managed the drainage, but the management was inappropriate. The patient developed NF at the tube site on the chest wall, requiring emergency fasciotomy and extensive surgical debridement. He was discharged without any complications after successful control of NF. A thoracic surgeon can perform both tube thoracostomy and tube management directly to avoid complications, as delayed drainage might result in severe complications.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.270-273
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• 2019

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and fascia, caused by bacterial infection. Usually presenting in the extremities, trunk, or perineum, it is uncommon in the craniofacial or cervical area. Cervicofacial NF is a potentially fatal infection, which should be managed with early detection and intervention. Most cases have a primary odontogenic source of infection, especially when the masticator space is involved. We report a case of masticator space NF that developed without odontogenic origin in a 78-year old female who was treated with prompt surgical drainage and intravenous antibiotics.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.104-110
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• 2007

Streptococcus pyogenes, which is classified to Group A streptococcus (GAS), is one of the most common bacterial pathogens of the childhood infection. This organism can cause acute bacterial pharyngitis, impetigo, peritonsilar abscess or scarlet fever. It can also cause severe invasive diseases such as toxic shock syndrome, sepsis, septic arthritis, necrotizing pneumonia or necrotizing fasciitis. Usually, invasive GAS infections are accompanied by systemic symptoms and signs. Necrotizing pneumonia presents with acute fever, pleuritic chest pain and cough. The progress of disease is usually rapid and typically, pleural effusion develops in the early course of disease. Necrotizing fasciitis is relatively rare but once it has developed, it may be life threatening and cause necrosis of adjacent soft tissues with rapid progress. Clinical manifestations of parapharyngeal abscess are fever, dysphagia or bulging of pharyngeal wall. We experienced three cases of GAS infections which were presented atypically.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.67-72
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• 2014

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is defined as rapidly progressive necrosis of subcutaneous fat and fascia. Although NF of the face is rare, its mortality rate is nearly 30%. It usually originates from dental infection and can lead to involvement of the neck, mediastinum, and chest wall. Complications resulting from pre-existing systemic diseases can increase the mortality rate. Known complication factors for NF include diabetes, malnutrition, advanced age, peripheral vascular disease, renal failure, and obesity. Here, we report a case of NF originating from dental infection in an 88-year-old woman already diagnosed with hypertension, thoracic aortic aneurysm, and renal diseases. Such conditions limited adequate surgical and antibiotic treatment. However, interdisciplinary treatment involving multiple departments was implemented with good results.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2021

Soft tissue filler injections are widely used due to their immediate effects, predictable results, and high stability. However, as the use of soft tissue filler injections has increased, various complications have been reported. We report a life-threatening complication in a patient who developed sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis. A 45-year-old woman presented with right leg pain and discharge from the labia majora. The patient had received a soft tissue filler injection of unknown composition 1 year earlier and had recently undergone incision and drainage for an inflammatory cystic nodule. Antibiotic treatment was administered for cellulitis, but the infection progressed to necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis. Fasciotomy and intensive care unit treatment improved the systemic infection, but the soft tissue filler injection site did not respond to treatment for 1 month. Thus, the injection site was covered with a pedicled vertical rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap after wide excision. The area of skin necrosis on the leg was covered with split-thickness skin grafts. Infections occurring after soft tissue filler injections are related to biofilms, and treatment is sometimes difficult. Therefore, although soft tissue filler injections have a favorable safety profile, it is important to be aware of the risk of life-threatening complications.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.427-431
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• 2018

We report a case of a patient with necrotizing fasciitis followed by liver abscess. A 51-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a 5-day history of fever and chills with painful swelling of the right thigh. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed fluid collection with numerous dark signal intensities considered as air-bubbles between the posteromedial and posterolateral groups of the right thigh, resulting in presumptive diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. At the time of admission, an ultrasonograph of the abdomen showed increased parenchymal echogenicity of both kidneys and no liver abscess. Ten days after fasciotomy, an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed intrahepatic abscess. Sonography-guided percutaneous drainage was performed. Both cultures of pus specimens from the liver abscess and right thigh yielded Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae). The patient was treated with fasciotomy several times and parenteral antibiotics, after which he began to improve. After 5 weeks, liver abscess size was reduced, and after 10 weeks, liver abscess disappeared. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of K. pneumoniae-necrotizing fasciitis followed by liver abscess.

• Journal of the Korean Burn Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.66-70
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• 2019

Purpose: The necrotizing fasciitis is a terrifying infectious disease that can rapidly spreads to surrounding tissues when fascia is infected and it can cause sepsis to death if not properly diagnosed and treated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics, causes, and treatment methods of necrotizing fasciitis in Korea through reviewing patients admitted to our burn center. Methods: 21 patients with necrotizing fasciitis were selected for this study among those inpatients with electronic medical records (EMR) admitted to Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Medical Center from Jan 1, 2008 to June 30, 2019. The medical records and wound photos of those 21 selected subjects were reviewed. Results: There were 13 male and 8 female patients and mean age was 58.76 years old. 13 of 21 subjects were survived and 8 died (38% mortality rate). The surgical treatments performed were I&D, fasciotomy, debridement, allograft, burring, STSG, flap, and amputation. The most common causes were burns in 9 subjects (6 contact burns) and cellulitis occurred on skins in 5 subjects. And other various causes were observed as fournier's gangrene, stab wound, intramuscular injection, tumor and bleu toe syndrome (toe necrosis). The infected areas were 11 feet and legs, 7 hips, 3 abdomen and trunk in 21 subjects. Of the 8 deaths, 3 were infected in feet and legs, 2 were infected in hips, and 2 were infected in abdomen and trunk. As for underlying diseases, 12 patients with hypertension or diabetes were the highest and others such as cancer and stroke were found. Conclusion: The only method to increase the survival rate is to 'suspect' the disease as much as possible and perform early extensive excision. It is advisable to treat the disease by the burn center to properly provide adequate and optimal wound management, infection control, medical care and nutritional supports.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.615-618
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• 2008

Purpose: Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare cutaneous ulcerative disease. First described in 1930, the condition is characterized by progressive ulceration with deeply undermined purple-red edge. The lower extremities are most commonly affected but other parts of the skin and mucous membranes may also be involved. Although medical treatments with topical wound therapy are commonly used, surgical intervention is still controversial. In this paper, we report an atypical case of pyoderma gangrenosum which was characterized by extensive soft tissue breakdown. Methods: A 27-year-old male patient was referred to our institution with a $7{\times}8cm$ sized deeply undermined ulceration with pus-like discharge and fever. Incision and drainage was performed at another clinic 3 days prior to admission to our institution. After a thorough physical examination and the MRI review, a diagnosis of necrotizing faciitis was made. Accordingly, fasciotomy and debridement was performed. However, the wound enlarged progressively and the patient remained highly febrile for 9 days after the treatment. Septic screening did not reveal any occult infection. After a secondary review of the case, the initial diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis was rejected and changed to pyoderma gangrenosum. With the use of dexamethasone intravenously, the wound improved dramatically and the fever was eliminated. Steroid mediation was tapered with duration of 1 month. The wound was stabilized and subsequently covered with split-thickness skin graft. Results: Split-thickness skin grafting with 1 : 1.5 mesh was successfully taken. Conclusion: Initial clinical features of pyoderma gangrenosum are very similar to that of necrotizing fasciitis. High fever and progressive ulceration with severe pain could invite earlier surgical approach. The advancing wound margins (the well defined violaceous, undermined border and necrotic ulcer base) and lack of isolation of pathogenic organism was used to make the correct diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum. We achieved a good result with proper medication and split-thickness skin graft.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.189-193
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• 2011

The advent and wide use of antibiotics have decreased the incidence of deep neck infection. When a deep neck infection does occur, however, it can be the cause of significant morbidity and death, resulting in airway obstruction, mediastinitis, pericarditis, epidural abscesses, and major vessel erosion. In our clinic, a patient with diffuse chronic osteomyelitis of mandible and fascial space abscess and necrotic fasciitis due to odontogenic infection at the time of first visit came. We successfully treated the patient by early diagnosis using contrast-enhanced CT and follow up dressing through the appropriate use of radiographic images.