EMdose

A 44 year old female presented to a community emergency department complaining of an abscess on her lateral right thigh that had been increasing in size for the last 2 days.  She reported having been kicked in that leg a few days prior.  She had been not been febrile, but did report some generalized malaise.  Her medical history was remarkable for chronic Hepatitis C without cirrhosis and a remote history of IV drug use, though patient strongly denied any recent use and had no apparent active injection marks.  Physical exam showed a 4 cm abscess on the lateral right thigh, roughly 2/3 of the way between the greater trochanter and the knee, with about 10 cm of associated cellulitis. Incision and drainage was performed and the patient was prescribed analgesics and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.  The margins of the cellulitis were marked and the patient was instructed to follow up for wound check the following day.   Continue reading →