A Case of Deep Neck Abscess after Blunt Injury

We report the case of a 59-year-old male patient who developed a deep neck abscess. Ten days after he sustained blunt trauma to his anterior chest and left shoulder, he developed redness and pain in his anterior neck and chest. Seventeen days after the injury, he was referred to our hospital and diagnosed as having a left deep neck abscess. The patient was initiated on antibiotic therapy with cefazolin and vancomycin, however, as his symptoms did not improve, incision and drainage was performed. This procedure was followed by improvement in both the signs and symptoms. A deep neck abscess often results from tonsillar or periodontal infection. It has been reported that the initial infection site remains unknown in about 3% of cases of deep neck abscess. Blunt trauma is known as the cause in some of the cases. Abscess formation after blunt trauma is caused by infection of the hematoma through blood-borne organisms and requires about 10 to 14 days to form. The presence of hematoidin crystals in the abscess supports the diagnosis. An injury should be considered as a cause of deep neck abscess when there is no evidence of a primary infection site.