Olivieri Patrick, Rose Gabriel, Siadecki Sebastian, Berkowitz Rachel, Saul Turandot
Department of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Ultrasound Division, Mount Sinai St. Luke's/Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY.
Am J Emerg Med. 2015 Jul;33(7):991.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.12.049. Epub 2014 Dec 30.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare bacterial infection of the fascia and surrounding soft tissue, which carries a mortality rate as high as 20%, even in well-appearing patients [1]. Classically, this diagnosis must be made with computed tomography or magnetic resonance,but recent literature shows that ultrasonography, readily available in the emergency department, may be adequate for diagnosis [2]. We present a case of a 48-year-old man who presented with a painful rash. We used his clinical presentation and ultrasound to make the diagnosis,which was later corroborated with plain radiograph findings. He was taken immediately to the operating room for extensive debridement.He was discharged 8 days later in good condition.
