Necrotizing myofasciitis: management in the emergency department using PoCUS. A case report

Severe soft tissue infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis and myositis, represent a critical challenge in contemporary medical practice due to their rapid progression and the devastating consequences they can entail. One of the main obstacles to their management is early diagnosis, which is complicated by the lack of evident cutaneous findings in the early stages of the disease. While CT is considered a precise diagnostic tool, it doesn't always influence the clinical management of each patient. In this context, ultrasound emerges as a valuable option, with high sensitivities and specificities, allowing for effective differentiation between severe infections and other pathologies. We present the case of a patient with necrotizing myofasciitis, in which the combination of clinical findings and PoCUS quickly identified the severity of the situation and facilitated tailored management adapted to the clinical context at that moment. This case illustrates the importance of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool, not only for the early identification of these infections but also for reducing the time to definitive treatment.