Necrotizing infection of the spine

Case report of multifocal necrotizing fasciitis with lumbar involvement.

To raise awareness of an unusual, but potential, focus of a multifocal necrotizing infection in a diabetic patient.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly spreading infection of the soft tissue and fascia. These infections can be polymicrobial, are challenging to treat, and often have grave consequences. The spine may rarely be involved in such infections.

We describe a patient with long-standing diabetic foot ulcers, which evolved to a necrotizing infection. This infection spread hematogenously to several noncontiguous locations, including the lumbar spine, and was heralded by gas production at the sites of involvement. The spine was treated aggressively and infection eradicated at this site.

Despite eradicating the spinal component of this infection, other sites were challenging to clear, and the patient went on to die of multisystem organ failure.

Necrotizing infections rarely involve the spine. Heightened awareness of this potential focus of infection may facilitate its detection. As with other sites, aggressive surgical debridement of this potentially fatal condition is imperative.