Necrotizing soft tissue infection of the shoulder caused by non-penetrating trauma - a case report

Necrotizing soft tissue infection is a rare and severe infection of the skin and fascial tissues, characterized by extensive and rapid subcutaneous soft tissue infection. The onset of necrotizing fasciitis often occurs in areas such as the perineum, limbs, abdomen, oral cavity, and neck. In this case, a 49-year-old male patient with a history of type 2 diabetes presented with right shoulder pain for three days. An MRI of the shoulder indicated edema and hematoma formation in the supraspinatus muscle, subscapularis muscle, and surrounding soft tissues of the clavicle. After receiving anti-infective treatment in a local hospital, the patient was readmitted due to redness, swelling, and pain in the right anterior chest area seven days later. The infection gradually worsened, and after three surgeries and multidisciplinary collaborative treatment, the patient’s condition stabilized, allowing for discharge. This case of NF occurred in the chest wall due to non-penetrating trauma to the shoulder, with rapid progression and a unique location, making it rarely reported in the literature.