Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Extensive cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin: case report and literature review

  • Case Report
  • Published:
European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis is a potentially fatal soft tissue infection characterized by generalized necrosis and gas formation in the subcutaneous tissues and fascia. It is rarely seen in the head and neck area. This report presents the case of a 62-year-old diabetic female patient with generalized cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis extending to the front chest wall. The cause of the disease was the extraction of the infected second molar tooth. Debridement was performed on the generalized necrotic fascia, subcutaneous tissue, and the skin extending from the preauricular area to the front chest wall and nipples. A series of debridement procedures were necessary because of generalized necrosis. The patient received intensive medical supportive treatment. Following the debridement procedures, the defective area from the neck to the front chest wall was closed up with split-thickness skin graft. Abscessed tooth extraction can lead to cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis. Necrotizing fasciitis still remains as a potentially fatal disease. Early diagnosis, early radical surgical debridement, and a multidisciplinary approach constitute the significant factors in preventing mortality in such patients.

Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aimioni C, Cilione AR, Grandi E, Lombardi L, Merlo R, Pastore A (1999) Cervical necrotizing fasciitis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 256:510–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Arifi HM, Duci SB, Zatriqi VK, Ahmeti HR, Ismajli VH et al (2013) A retrospective study of 22 patients with necrotising fasciitis treated at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (2005–2010). Int Wound J 10:461–465

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lin C, Yeh FL, Lin JT, Ma H, Hwang CH, Shen BH, Fang RH (2001) Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck: an analysis of 47 cases. Plast Reconstr Surg 107:1684–1693

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Umeda M, Minamikawa T, Komatsubara H, Shibuya Y, Yokoo S, Komori T (2003) Necrotizing fasciitis caused by dental infection: a retrospective analysis of 9 cases and a review of the literature. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 95:283–290

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bahu SJ, Shibuya TY, Meleca RJ, Mathog RH, Yoo GH, Stachler RJ, Tyburski JG (2001) Craniocervical necrotizing fasciitis: an 11-year experience. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 125:245–252

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Skitarelić N, Mladina R, Morović M, Skitarelić N (2003) Cervical necrotizing fasciitis: sources and outcomes. Infection 31:39–44

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Tung-Yiu W, Jehn-Shyun H, Ching-Hung C, Hung-An C (2000) Cervical necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin: a report of 11 cases. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 58:1347–1352

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tunovic E, Gawaziuk J, Bzura T, Embil J, Esmail A, Logsetty S (2012) Necrotizing fasciitis: a six-year experience. J Burn Care Res 33:93–100

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Greinwald JH, Wilson JF, Haggerty PG (1995) Peritonsillar abscess: an unlikely cause of necrotizing fasciitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 104:133–137

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Antunes AA, Avelar RL, de Melo WM, Pereira-Santos D, Frota R (2013) Extensive cervical necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin. J Craniofac Surg 24:e594–e597

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Klabacha ME, Stankiewicz JA, Clift SE (1982) Severe soft tissue infection of the face and neck: a classification. Laryngoscope 92:1135–1139

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Becker M, Zbären P, Hermans R, Becker CD, Marchal F, Kurt AM et al (1997) Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck: role of CT in diagnosis and management. Radiology 202:471–476

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Banerjee AR, Murty GE, Moir AA (1996) Cervical necrotizing fasciitis: a distinct clinicopathological entity? J Laryngol Otol 110:81–86

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Opasanon S, Muangman P, Namviriyachote N (2010) Clinical effectiveness of alginate silver dressing in outpatient management of partial-thickness burns. Int Wound J 7:467–471

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lanisnik B, Cizmarevic B (2010) Necrotizing fasciitis of the head and neck: 34 cases of a single institution experience. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 267:415–421

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Morioka D, Nakatani K, Watanabe S, Shimizu Y et al (1999) Cervical necrotizing fasciitis with upper trunk extension. Eur J Plast Surg 22:264–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Patient consent

The patient gave her informed consent prior to her inclusion in the study. Details that might disclose the identity of the patient were omitted.

Ethical Standards

For this type of study formal consent is not required.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Pamukkale University Hospital, Denizli, Turkey

    Adem Özkan & Adem Topkara

  2. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Mevlana University Hospital, Konya, Turkey

    Sadık Şentürk

  3. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Selcuk University Hospital, Konya, Turkey

    Zekeriya Tosun

Authors
  1. Adem Özkan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sadık Şentürk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Adem Topkara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zekeriya Tosun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adem Özkan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Özkan, A., Şentürk, S., Topkara, A. et al. Extensive cervicofacial necrotizing fasciitis of odontogenic origin: case report and literature review. Eur J Plast Surg 38, 143–146 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-014-1036-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-014-1036-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation