Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Cheek: A Case Report

• Published in: Acta Facultatis Medicae Naissensis Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 247 - 252
• Main Authors: Lazić, Vojkan, Krasić, Dragan, Trajković, Miloš, Stojanović, Miloš, Živković, Nikola, Spasić, Milan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nis De Gruyter Open 01.09.2017; University in Nis, Faculty of Medicine
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Bacterial infections; Case reports; Face; Microorganisms; Necrotizing fasciitis; secondary reconstruction; surgical and antibiotic treatment
• ISSN: 2217-2521; 0351-6083; 2217-2521
• DOI: 10.1515/afmnai-2017-0030

The term necrotizing fasciitis (NF) was first used by Wilson in 1952, who described this rare, however, progressive infection that primarily affects the fascia and subcutaneous tissues. Necrotizing fasciitis may affect any part of the body; however, it usually appears on the extremities. The most common microorganisms isolated in NF are , group , and We are presenting the case of a sixty-seven-year old woman, who was admitted for the perforation of painful edema of the left cheek. Clinical examination of the anterior two-thirds of the left cheek revealed a defect of the full thickness of the skin, 3×4 cm in size. During the patient’s hospitalization she was treated by parenterally administered broad-spectrum antibiotics, necrotomy, fasciotomy of the cheek and the extraction of the remaining roots in the 3 and 4 quadrant. Necrotic fasciitis is a rare, rapidly progressive infection of soft tissues, which, if untimely diagnosed and treated, may be life-threatening. The prognosis of treatment depends on the early recognition of the disease. It is treated with aggressive surgical debridement followed by antibiotic therapy.