Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Life-threatening Complication of Intraoperative Electromyography

Alireza Shoakazemi; Marc Moisi; R Shane Tubbs; Mary Wingerson; Olaide Ajayi; Michael E Zwillman; Jourdan Gottlieb; David Hanscom

doi:10.7759/cureus.468

Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Life-threatening Complication of Intraoperative Electromyography

Alireza Shoakazemi, Marc Moisi, R Shane Tubbs, Mary Wingerson, Olaide Ajayi, Michael E Zwillman, Jourdan Gottlieb, David Hanscom

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is a commonly used practice during spine surgery. Complications of electromyography (EMG) needle electrode placement are very uncommon. We present a patient who was infected with necrotizing fasciitis in her left thigh due to an EMG needle electrode during a two-stage complex spine procedure. This case demonstrates that providers should continue to meticulously adhere to protocol when inserting and removing EMG needles, but also be cognizant during postoperative observation of the possibility of infection caused by EMG needles.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	e468
Journal	Cureus
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.468
State	Published - Jan 25 2016

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Journal Article

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10.7759/cureus.468

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abstract = "Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is a commonly used practice during spine surgery. Complications of electromyography (EMG) needle electrode placement are very uncommon. We present a patient who was infected with necrotizing fasciitis in her left thigh due to an EMG needle electrode during a two-stage complex spine procedure. This case demonstrates that providers should continue to meticulously adhere to protocol when inserting and removing EMG needles, but also be cognizant during postoperative observation of the possibility of infection caused by EMG needles.",

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AU - Shoakazemi, Alireza

AU - Moisi, Marc

AU - Tubbs, R Shane

AU - Wingerson, Mary

AU - Ajayi, Olaide

AU - Zwillman, Michael E

AU - Gottlieb, Jourdan

AU - Hanscom, David

PY - 2016/1/25

Y1 - 2016/1/25

N2 - Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is a commonly used practice during spine surgery. Complications of electromyography (EMG) needle electrode placement are very uncommon. We present a patient who was infected with necrotizing fasciitis in her left thigh due to an EMG needle electrode during a two-stage complex spine procedure. This case demonstrates that providers should continue to meticulously adhere to protocol when inserting and removing EMG needles, but also be cognizant during postoperative observation of the possibility of infection caused by EMG needles.

AB - Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is a commonly used practice during spine surgery. Complications of electromyography (EMG) needle electrode placement are very uncommon. We present a patient who was infected with necrotizing fasciitis in her left thigh due to an EMG needle electrode during a two-stage complex spine procedure. This case demonstrates that providers should continue to meticulously adhere to protocol when inserting and removing EMG needles, but also be cognizant during postoperative observation of the possibility of infection caused by EMG needles.

KW - Journal Article

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JO - Cureus

JF - Cureus

IS - 1

ER -

Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Life-threatening Complication of Intraoperative Electromyography

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