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Periorbital necrotising fasciitis: delay in diagnosis results in loss of lower eyelid

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Abstract

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is an extremely rare skin and soft tissue infection with extensive necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and underlying fascia, which usually affects the limbs and trunk. It rarely affects the head and neck region because of the excellent blood supply in this region. We report a case of NF initially misdiagnosed as a traumatic pre-septal cellulitis following self-puncture of a hordeolum externum (stye) and its resistance to aggressive antibiotic therapy resulting in the loss of the lower eyelid.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Abbreviations

NF:

Necrotising fasciitis

IV:

Intravenous

CT:

Computerised Axial Tomography

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mr. Brian Leatherbarrow , Mr. Saj Ataullah and Mrs. A.Cook, Consultant Ophthalmologists at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital for their expert management of this patient and photographs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Eye Care Centre, Leighton Hospital, Crewe, CW1 4QJ, UK

    Vignesh Raja, Raly Job, Alan Hubbard & Brendan Moriarty

  2. School of Clinical Sciences, The University of Liverpool, UCD Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK

    Vignesh Raja

Authors
  1. Vignesh Raja
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  2. Raly Job
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  3. Alan Hubbard
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  4. Brendan Moriarty
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Correspondence to Vignesh Raja.

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Raja, V., Job, R., Hubbard, A. et al. Periorbital necrotising fasciitis: delay in diagnosis results in loss of lower eyelid. Int Ophthalmol 28, 67–69 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-007-9108-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-007-9108-z

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