Nicolau syndrome due to a traumatic finger injury with a needle : a case report with an exclusive photographic documentation.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Nicolau syndrome, also known as livedo-like dermatitis or embolia cutis medicamentosa, is a rare complication usually after intra-muscular or intra-articular injection of various drugs. It is difficult to find photographic documentation of this syndrome from the initial stages due to its rarity and unpredictable evolution.

CASE PRESENTATION:

We report the case of a 54-year-old Portuguese woman who developed Nicolau Syndrome after a traumatic finger injury with a sewing needle. She developed an ulcer and cutaneous necrosis. She was treated with surgical debridement, antibiotic, analgesics and sterile dressings. The ulcer healed completely within 18 weeks with scarring.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although Nicolau syndrome develops very rarely, it is an important cause for morbidity. It is an iatrogenic condition. The Nicolau Syndrome following a traumatic injury with a needle without drugs, as far as we know, has never been reported in the published literature especially with photographic records from the beginning of the process.

• Authors: Luis de Almeida Maia, Olga Pereira, Ricardo Marta, Joana Costa, Ana Batista, João David Costa, Fernando Macedo, Jose Fraga, Carlos Vilela
• Journal: Case reports in plastic surgery & hand surgery (Case Reports Plast Surg Hand Surg) Vol. 7 Issue 1 Pg. 88-93 (Aug 12 2020) ISSN: 2332-0885 [Print] United States
• PMID: 32939362 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.