Certified Hyperbaric Technologist Practice Test

Which condition involves the fasciitis and not just the muscle?

1. Gas gangrene

2. Necrotising fasciitis

3. Fournier's gangrene

4. Tetanus

The correct answer is: Necrotising fasciitis

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe, rapidly progressing infection that primarily affects the fascial plane, resulting in the destruction of the fascia, subcutaneous tissue, and often muscle. This condition involves a deep tissue infection that is characterized by the extensive necrosis of the soft tissue. In necrotizing fasciitis, the infection spreads along the fascial planes, which is a thin connective tissue layer that surrounds muscles, nerves, and blood vessels, leading to severe outcomes if not treated urgently. The emphasis on fasciitis in the name itself highlights that the fascia is significantly involved in this condition, in contrast to other conditions listed. While gas gangrene and Fournier's gangrene can also involve soft tissues and may affect muscle, the primary and distinctive feature of necrotizing fasciitis is its specific aggressiveness and involvement of the fascial tissue. Tetanus, on the other hand, is a neurological condition caused by a toxin and does not primarily involve muscle fascial planes in the same way. This distinction makes necrotizing fasciitis the clear choice when considering a condition that involves the fascia specifically.