2020, Number 1
Usefulness of ultrasound in decision making on cellulite or soft tissue abscess
Valle AJ, Fonseca PFJ, Noblia L
Language: Spanish
References: 7
Page: 1-6
PDF size: 248.14 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Traditionally, emergency physicians rely on the clinical examination to differentiate cellulite from abscess, in relation to assessing skin and soft tissue infections. The management of an abscess requires incision and drainage; while an antibiotic treatment is usually required for cellulite. Misdiagnosis often leads to unnecessary invasive procedures, sedation (for incision and drainage in pediatric patients), or a new emergency visit due to failed antibiotic therapy. We report the case of a 35-year-old patient, who went to the health center for initial suspicion of cellulite. A POCUS ultrasound (point-of-care-ultrasound) was performed with the presence of an abscess of the triceps muscle. Incision and drainage were performed. The patient evolved satisfactorily.REFERENCES
Barbic D, Chenkin J, Cho DD, Jelic T, Scheuermeyer FX. In patients presenting to the emergency department with skin and soft tissue infections what is the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasonography for the diagnosis of abscess compared to the current standard of care? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2017;7(1):e013688.