An avoidable adverse drug reaction: Nicolau syndrome

Abstract

Dear Editors, Nicolau syndrome (NS), or embolia cutis medicamentosa, is a rare complication of intramuscular injection, leading to local ischemic necrosis involving the skin and adipose tissue 1. It was first described in 1924 after intramuscular injection of a bismuth‐in‐oil suspension for the treatment of syphilis. Subsequent case reports have documented this reaction to a variety of medications 2, 3. Here, we report a case of NS following an intramuscular injection of diclofenac sodium.