Necrotising myositis is a type of bacterial infection that is very similar to necrotising fasciitis. The condition must be treated quickly if a fatality is to be avoided.
What is necrotising myositis?
Necrotising myositis is soft tissue infection. It is caused by the Streptococcus pyogenes. The infection often starts after a minor wound to the tissue or muscle. This may be so insignificant a wound that the affected individual is completely unaware of having sustained it.
Anyone can get necrotising myositis, although there are factors that increase the risk, including type II diabetes, poor nutrition and drug/alcohol abuse.
Necrotising myositis symptoms
Necrotising myositis begins with:
- Fever (including a high temperature, muscle aches, chills and sweating)
- Fatigue
- Intense pain in a muscle compartment
- Redness and swelling at the site of pain
The intense pain within a muscle compartment is one of the most telling symptoms of necrotising myositis, as it will be unexplained and disproportionate to any skin changes.
The symptoms of necrotising myositis will quickly escalate, rapidly resulting in:
- Increased pain
- Pus-filled blisters on the skin called bullae
- Regional tissue necrosis
- Respiratory problems
If left untreated, necrotising myositis will lead to kidney failure, septic shock and acute respiratory distress. These complications can be fatal.
Treating necrotising myositis
To prevent fatal complications occurring, necrotising myositis must be treated immediately with intravenous antibiotics, fluid resuscitation and debridement surgery. More than one operation may be required.
Supportive medical care must be provided to the patient afterwards. This may include vacuum-assisted closure of the wound. The recovery process may be slow for the patient, who may have to spend a number of weeks in hospital.
Diagnosing necrotising myositis
The survival of the patient is therefore dependent upon early treatment being provided. This in itself is dependent upon a prompt diagnosis being made.
The first step towards diagnosing necrotising myositis is to recognise a patient’s symptoms, as being indicative of a soft tissue infection.
A diagnosis can be confirmed with clinical tests. For example, a blood test will show elevated serum CK levels, increased C-Reactive Protein and increased white blood cells. A CT scan or MRI scan will show abnormalities in the tissue, while a surgical exploration will reveal ‘dishwater’ fluid in the tissue.
Delayed treatment of necrotising myositis
Sadly necrotising myositis is often subject to a delay in treatment because medical practitioners fail to make a swift diagnosis. Indeed, necrotising myositis can mimic other conditions, causing confusion amongst the treating clinicians.
If there is a delay in diagnosis and treatment, and the fault lies with medical error, there may be grounds for compensation claim. Contact us today to find out more.
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