Thigh Emphysema as a First Sign of Abdominal Disease
A. Toro, M. Mannino, I. Di CarloClinical case, no. 2, 2013
Thigh infection is a rare complication of intra-abdominal
sepsis that can present with emphysema. We report a case of
infection in the thigh resulting from colonic perforation. A
61-year-old woman with cirrhosis, grade Child B6 and
diabetes treated with oral hypoglycemic drugs was referred to
the emergency department because of a persistent pain in
her left thigh and also for some abdominal discomforts
during the preceding few days. Ultrasonography identified
the presence of gas and fluid in the thigh. The patient
received fluids and antibiotics but on the day after she
reported an increase in pain. For this reason the patient was
submitted to a CT scan that showed a thigh emphysema due
to intestinal perforation. The patient was submitted to
laparotomy. A Hartmann's procedure was performed, with
resection of about 15 cm of affected sigmoid colon. The left
thigh wound did not require any treatment.
