CASE REPORTS   

Chirurgia 2008 June;21(3):181-4

Copyright © 2008 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Use of mesh grafts in the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis of the lower limbs: a case report

Siragò P. ¹, Ranno R. ², Soma P. F. ¹, Scrimali L. ¹, Virzì D. ¹, Verzì D. ¹, Scilletta A. ¹

¹ Department of Plastic Surgery, Cannizzaro Hospital University of Catania, Catania 2 Burn Unit, Cannizzaro Hospital University of Catania, Catania Divisione di Chirurgia Generale

The necrotizing fasciitis is an important soft tissues infectious pathology, characterized by rapid course and notable mortality. Approximately 10% of cases of necrotizing fasciitis are caused by streptococcus A; however, but at the same time it is very common a mixed infection, with anaerobic and aerobic bacteria is also observed. This infectious diseasetrial is characterized for two fundamental aspects: the tendency to the diffusion, without demarcation orneither purulent harvest (the diffusion occursthat quickly happens initially atto level of the subcutaneous levelplan and then qickly, in order to the location, along the muscular fascia) and the rapids tendency of the infected tissues to the necrosis, with clinical aggravation. A delay in the diagnosis or in the treatment of the infection increases notably the risk of death’s risk, contrarily a timely intervention can reduce it to 12%. We describe the case of a 60 year-old woman inunder bad conditions (general and local), referredpresented to our our Ddepartment after several treatments in the Departments of Medicine and Dermatology. The patient showedhad cutaneous ulcers with important circumferential lack of substance into both of the legs, from knees to ankles, as a result of bacterial necrotizing dermal-epidermalepidermo-dermato myiositis . Her The clinical history started had been dating for about two years before she presented to our Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.