Inflammation of a neck fistula

Fistulas of the neck can become enlarged and inflamed. Inflammation is caused by pathogens that penetrate the neck fistula and multiply there. Typical signs of inflammation are swelling, reddened skin and sometimes severe pain.

Dead immune cells and bacteria cause pus to form, which can collect in an encapsulated cavity and thus form an abscess (see: Abscess on the neck). If the patient is not treated with antibiotics in time, the infection can spread to surrounding tissue. Important vessels run in the neck area, leading to the brain and heart. Through these the bacteria can spread to the whole body and this can lead to blood poisoning (sepsis) with high fever. It is therefore important to surgically remove the neck fistula at an early stage so that it cannot become inflamed in the first place.

Treatment of a neck fistula

Neck fistulas do not or only very rarely recede by themselves, therefore in most cases they are surgically removed. A neck fistula is also operated on when the patient is free of symptoms and the fistula has not yet become inflamed, as fistulas carry a high risk of inflammation. An inflamed neck fistula is treated with antibiotics so that the inflammation subsides quickly and cannot spread through the body.

Surgical removal of the fistula is only possible if there is no inflammation. Surgical removal of the fistula takes place after the diagnosis has been made and a detailed examination of the neck fistula using ultrasound or MRI. This is a routine procedure that usually proceeds without complications.

The operation is performed under local or general anesthesia. Through a small incision in the skin, the fistula is cut out together with the opening to the skin surface. Sometimes several small incisions are necessary to completely remove the neck fistula.

The operation can be a comprehensive procedure, as the fistula opening together with the fistula duct must be removed right to the end. If the fistula is not completely removed, there is a high risk of relapse. A neck fistula does not in itself cause any complaints.However, as soon as microorganisms penetrate the fistula, an inflammation can lead to complications such as fever or even blood poisoning.

Therefore, at the first signs of an inflamed neck fistula, a doctor must be consulted immediately. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics, which will quickly heal the inflammation. It becomes problematic, however, if the neck fistula becomes inflamed several times, as more and more adhesions are formed, which make surgical removal of the complete fistula very difficult. Therefore, it is best to remove the fistula early on, before it becomes inflamed.