Thigh Abscess Secondary to Intra-abdominal Pathologic Conditions: Three Cases Progressing to Necrotizing Fasciitis

Necrotizing fasciitis results in progressive destruction of the fascia and overlying tissue. Mortality primarily depends upon the timing of medical care and the extent of infection.

This article presents a case series of thigh abscesses originating from intra-abdominal pathologic conditions and progressing to necrotizing fasciitis due to delayed diagnosis.

The data concerning 3 patients with thigh abscess originating from an intra-abdominal pathologic condition and progressing to necrotizing fasciitis are presented.

All patients had undergone previous colorectal surgery for malignancy and were admitted to the hospital with pain concentrated in the lower back and spreading down to the buttock, sacrum and coccyx, and leg. Patients had received symptomatic therapy, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and 1 patient had undergone diskectomy for a herniated disk in the lumbar region. All 3 patients subsequently developed thigh abscesses (initially treated by percutaneous and/or surgical drainage) and received antibiotic therapy. One patient underwent percutaneous drainage, and 2 patients underwent abdominal surgery to address the abdominal abscess. During the course of treatment, thigh abscesses progressed to necrotizing fasciitis, which was treated by surgical debridement with or without negative pressure wound therapy. All patients died of overwhelming sepsis.

Thigh abscess may spontaneously arise from surrounding soft tissues, or it may be a sign of intraperitoneal, retroperitoneal, or pelvic pathologic conditions. Deep, vague pain in the back or hip area that spreads downward to the buttock and leg may be an early symptom of these pathologic conditions. Clinical suspicion may be effective in reducing mortality by enabling early surgical intervention, especially in the patient with a previous history of abdominal surgery, radiotherapy, or inflammatory or malignant disease.