Volume 29, Issue 164, October 2025

A rapidly progressive case of Fournier’s gangrene in a young male following a trivial injury to the groin area

Agnieszka Witowska^1♦, Żanna Gawrysz¹, Stanisław Derewjanko²

¹Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, Multispecialty Hospital in Nowa Sól, ul. Chałubińskiego 7, 67-000 Nowa Sól, Poland
²Collegium Medicum of the University of Zielona Góra, ul. Zyty 28, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Agnieszka Witowska, Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, Multispecialty Hospital in Nowa Sól, ul. Chałubińskiego 7, 67-000 Nowa Sól, Poland

ABSTRACT

Fournier's gangrene is a rapidly progressing and insidious necrotizing infection of the fascia and soft tissues, characterized by its infrequent occurrence and very high mortality rate. It affects men significantly more often. It usually begins in the area of the external genitalia and perineum, and then spreads along fascial planes to other parts of the body. We present a unique case of a 43-year-old man with no history of chronic illnesses, who reported to the Emergency Department with symptoms of quadriceps muscle injury resulting from trauma. Within two days, the patient's condition deteriorated rapidly. The patient was transported to the hospital in a critically severe state. He was lethargic and hemodynamically unstable during transportation. Extensive areas of tissue necrosis were identified during clinical evaluation. Necrosis involved the external genitalia, the perineal region, and extended onto the medial aspect of the right thigh. In light of these findings, the medical team diagnosed Fournier's gangrene. Consequently, the surgeons proceeded with urgent wide debridement under general anesthesia to remove the necrotic tissue. His condition continued to worsen despite comprehensive therapeutic efforts, as the infection proved resistant to treatment. The characteristics of this case highlight the importance of assessing patients—especially following trauma to the perineal and genital area—for developing signs of gangrene, and the need for increased clinical vigilance. Prompt recognition combined with a swift treatment approach plays a vital role in avoiding serious complications, including sepsis and death.

Keywords: Fournier's gangrene, necrosis, necrotizing fasciitis, surgical debridement, surgical necrosectomy

Medical Science, 2025, 29, e203ms3661

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Published: 11 October 2025