Vacuum-assisted closure of a tissue deficit of the submental area in a patient with a necrotizing soft tissue odontogenic infection.

ABSTRACT

Odontogenic infections can rarely progress to necrotizing soft tissue infections. Cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) is a rare but fulminant infection that spreads along the fascial planes, including connective tissue, muscle, and subcutaneous fat, and is typified by necrosis of the skin and other adjacent tissues. This article aims to present the treatment of a patient with submental skin and soft tissue necrosis due to an odontogenic infection and the subsequent management of the tissue deficit with a vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system. The patient presented with extensive skin necrosis in the submental area and was immediately hospitalized, and management of the odontogenic infection was performed. When the patients' infection had been sufficiently controlled, a wound VAC device was placed in the deficit. The VAC device was removed after 12 days, and the patient was discharged. In conclusion, VAC can be used to manage tissue deficits with good aesthetic results.