title: Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Life-threatening Complication of Intraoperative Electromyography.
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.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shoakazemi
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moisi
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Seattle Science Foundation.
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wingerson
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
authors.forename: Olaide
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Houston Methodist Hospital.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Zwillman
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery, Swedish Medical Center.
authors.forename: Jourdan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hanscom
keywords: emg; intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring; necrotizing fasciitis; needle electrode infection; soft tissue infection; spine surgery