CMT and Erysipelas of left upper limb occurring after elbow dislocation

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Dermatol Online J. 2006 May 30;12(4):9.

Erysipelas of the left upper limb occurring after elbow dislocation.

Badri T, Mokni M, Sassi MB, Cherif F, Azaiz MI, Dhahri AB.

Dermatology Department, La Rabta Hospital, Rue Jabbari, 1007 Tunis,

Tunisia.

BACKGROUND: Erysipelas is an acute infection occurring chiefly in

the lower limbs, rarely in the upper limbs.

OBSERVATION: A 45-year-old patient suffering from Charcot-Marie-

Tooth disease with neuropathy of the limbs, presented with fever and

a 24-hour history of a well-circumscribed inflammatory and

infiltrated plaque of the left arm. Erysipelas was diagnosed and

intravenous penicillin was administered leading to regression of the

inflammatory signs, however edema persisted in the inner part of the

left elbow. An x-ray showed left elbow dislocation. The patient

revealed trauma of the left upper limb 5 weeks before.

DISCUSSION: The occurrence of erysipelas is usually associated with

lymphatic edema or venous incontinence. Lymphatic lesions due to

radiotherapy or surgery may afflict draining vessels leading to

venous and lymphatic stasis and then infection occurs. We find no

reported cases of erysipelas following elbow dislocation but we

postulate its pathogenesis to be similar.