INTRODUCTION: Non-tropical pyomyositis is a commonly reported infection in immunodeficient patients' muscle but is rare without immunodeficiency.
CASE DESCRIPTION: We report the case of a 40-year-old woman admitted in the physical medicine and rehabilitation department for a motor and sensory loss of the lower limb; this disorder appeared after rhabdomyolysis due to prolonged lying position (suicide attempt). The initial diagnosis of sciatic nerve compression was not consistent with motor loss of adductor muscles. Clinical examination revealed soft tissue swelling in the proximal part of her lower limb. CT scan displayed pyomyositis of the thigh (hip adductors and gluteus medius), which was successfully treated by surgical incision and drainage in combination with antibiotherapy.
CONCLUSION: Non-tropical pyomyositis is rarely described without immunodeficiency but this diagnosis should be borne in mind when previous muscle trauma is associated to leukocytosis. Computed tomography and MRI are the tests of choice to confirm the diagnosis of pyomyositis and to differentiate it from other entities.