A Case of Fournier’s Gangrene Caused by a Fish Bone

Abstract

An 85-year-old man with a history of pain in the gluteal region was transferred to our hospital in a shock state. The left buttock was swollen and warm to the touch. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed subcutaneous emphysema and the dirty fat sign in the perianal region. Also, a foreign body (fish bone) was visualized as a linear shadow posterior to the rectum. Based on the clinical and radiological findings, the patient was diagnosed as having Fournier’s gangrene. We immediately performed surgical debridement and drainage and started the patient on wide-spectrum antibiotic treatment. Following intensive care and repeated cleaning/debridement, the patient’s condition as well as inflammatory indicators improved. He was discharged from the ICU on the 7th day of hospitalization, and discharged from the hospital on the 39th day of hospitalization. Herein, we report a rare case of Fournier’s gangrene caused by a fish bone.