Retrosternal abscess after trigger point injections in a pregnant woman: a case report
2011
Retrosternal Abscess After Trigger Point Injections in a Pregnant Woman
Sample size: 1
publication
Evidence: low
Author Information
Author(s): Usman Faisal, Bajwa Abubakr, Shujaat Adil, Cury James
Primary Institution: University of Florida College of Medicine
Conclusion
Trigger point injections are generally safe, but serious complications like retrosternal abscess can occur.
Supporting Evidence
- Retrosternal abscess is a known complication of sternotomy and intravenous drug abuse, but not of trigger point injections.
- The patient had a history of complications from trigger point injections, including a previous pneumothorax.
- A CT scan revealed a 4.7 cm abscess in the retrosternal region.
- The patient recovered completely after treatment.
Takeaway
A woman got a painful abscess after getting injections to help with her chest pain, which is not something usually expected from this treatment.
Methodology
The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and underwent surgical drainage and debridement.
Limitations
Only one case is reported, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
37-year-old African-American woman, 20 weeks pregnant.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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