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Necrotizing fasciitis as a complication of a continuous sciatic nerve catheter using the lateral popliteal approach
  1. Daltry Dott, MD,
  2. Christopher Canlas, MD,
  3. Christopher Sobey, MD,
  4. William Obremskey, MD, MPH and
  5. Andrew Brian Thomson, MD
  1. From the Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
  1. Address correspondence to: Daltry Dott, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1211 Medical Center Dr, Nashville, TN 37232-7237 (e-mail: daltry.dott{at}Vanderbilt.Edu).

Abstract

Objective Necrotizing fasciitis is an infection of the soft tissue that is characterized by rapidly spreading inflammation and subsequent necrosis. It is a rare complication of peripheral nerve blocks. We report a rare case of necrotizing fasciitis after placement of a peripheral nerve catheter.

Case Report A 58-year-old woman presented for an elective right second metatarsal resection and received a sciatic nerve catheter for postoperative pain control. On postoperative day 7, clinical examination and imaging supported the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis.

Conclusions Multiple reports have been published of necrotizing fasciitis after single-shot peripheral nerve block injections, neuraxial anesthesia, and intramuscular injections. This case highlights the potential for the rare complication of necrotizing fasciitis after peripheral nerve catheter placement.

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Footnotes

  • The authors declare no conflict of interest.