Cervico-facial necrotising fasciitis occurring with facial paralysis: case report

Abstract

Necrotising fasciitis is a soft tissue infection, usually polymicrobial, characterised by necrosis of fascia and subcutaneous tissue. It frequently involves the groin, abdomen and extremities, but rarely involves the cemco-facial region. A case is presented of a 70-year old man who, following a futile attempt to extract a lower left first molar, developed a cervico-facial necrotising fasciitis with facial nerve paralysis. Bacteriological investigations revealed the presence of Klebsiella spp and viridans streptococci. It is emphasised that early detection of this disease followed by aggressive surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy are most important.