Smoldering subcutaneous polymicrobial infection concealed beneath a cast and a skin graft: Delayed wound healing due to recurring soft-tissue infections

  • Deepak Bharadia
  • Ashley Sturgeon
  • Daniel Baird
  • Jonathan Aldrete B.A.

Abstract

Injury to soft-tissues secondary to trauma is common and may require surgical intervention depending on the extent of the injury and the structures involved. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of traumatic injury and often require surgical irrigation and debridement (I&D) to remove damaged and necrotic tissue while preserving tissue integrity and function. Surgical intervention carries its own risks, however, with the introduction of pathogens to the surgical site being a potential complication. This case of an 18 yr. old woman with a chronic would due to recurring skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) highlights the complications of surgical intervention and the difficulty of dealing with recurring SSTIs. The patient suffered a left knee injury with patellar tendon laceration secondary to trauma from a motor vehicle accident. She initially underwent surgical irrigation and debridement, followed by patellar tendon repair with a rotational flap to close the open wound. Following the initial closure in December 2019, the patient underwent 6 more I&Ds and wound debridement over a 5-month period due to a chronic non-healing wound with recurring SSTIs.  Wound Healing was tentatively achieved with antibiotic coverage for both Staph Aureus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.

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Published
2021-01-28
How to Cite
Bharadia , D., Sturgeon, A., Baird, D., & Aldrete, J. (2021). Smoldering subcutaneous polymicrobial infection concealed beneath a cast and a skin graft: Delayed wound healing due to recurring soft-tissue infections. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles, 9(37), 78-81. https://doi.org/10.12746/swrccc.v9i37.745