Fatal necrotizing fasciitis following a non-treated mandibular fracture: case report

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare and severe infection characterized by extensive and quickly progressing necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and muscle fascia associated with high mortality rates in the head and neck region. We present a case of fatal necrotizing fasciitis due to an untreated mandibular fracture. Eight days after the trauma, the patient was admitted to the hospital and died on the sixth day of hospitalization.

Cervical Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Severe Sequela of Open Mandibular Fracture and Delay in Treatment

“…In this case, aggressive surgical source control and coordinated intensive care management were essential to improving patient survival in CNF and septic shock, which is associated with a high mortality rate 2–4 . Although external fixation has largely fallen out of favor for the repair of mandible fractures, it remains a valuable option in select cases where extensive comminution, bone or soft tissue loss, or infection are present 9 .…”

“…Cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) is an exceedingly rare disease with an incidence of 0.40 cases per 100,000 people, most often arising from odontogenic sources in the setting of underlying diabetes mellitus 1 . CNF following mandibular fracture is even less common, with only 5 documented cases in the literature and 2 out of 5 cases resulting in patient demise 2–6 . In this report, we describe the clinical management of a patient with no known history of diabetes or immunocompromised state who developed CNF and Lemierre syndrome secondary to delayed treatment of a mandibular fracture.…”