Standardized therapy of necrotizing fasciitis

Summ.: From the file online at the department of surgery of the Medical University Lubeck, 894 patients with soft tissue infections treated between 01. 05. 90 and 31. 12. 94 were evaluated. 21 cases (10 men, 11 women) were classified as necrotizing fasciitis (i.e. 2.2%). The mean age was 59.7 years (range 17-84 years). Frequent predisposing diseases were diabetes mellitus (n=12) and lower extremity ischemia (n = 8) and alcoholism (n = 4). The causing injuries were of minor nature (n = 11), crural ulcers (n = 3) and abscesses caused by intramuscular injection (n = 3). In 7 cases Streptococcus pyogenes group A was responsible for the infection. Different pathogen germs were found in 14 patients. The first essential steps to treat the patient are aggressive surgical debridement and programmed daily revisions. 76 debridements were performed (3.6 per patient). Amputations were necessary in 4 cases. Intensive care treatment and the administration of antibiotics support this surgical therapy. Meshgraft transplantation (n = 18) and secondary suture (n = 11) were done when wound conditions were suitable for it. 4 patients died (19%). An increased mortality was found in patients older than 65 years (36.4%) and if operative treatment was performed more than 5 days from the beginning of symptoms (33.3%). An early diagnosis and standardized treatment lead to better results in terms of mortality and preservation of the infected limb and its function.