Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Upper Limb: Optimizing Management to Reduce Complications
Background: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a severe, potentially life-threatening condition. The aim of this study is to identify strategies aimed at reducing complications in patients with NF of the upper limb. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on patients admitted to our Unit for suspecte...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/8/2182 |
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| author | Simone La Padula Rosita Pensato Antonio Zaffiro Oana Hermeziu Francesco D’Andrea Chiara Pizza Jean Paul Meningaud Barbara Hersant |
| author_facet | Simone La Padula Rosita Pensato Antonio Zaffiro Oana Hermeziu Francesco D’Andrea Chiara Pizza Jean Paul Meningaud Barbara Hersant |
| author_sort | Simone La Padula |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a severe, potentially life-threatening condition. The aim of this study is to identify strategies aimed at reducing complications in patients with NF of the upper limb. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on patients admitted to our Unit for suspected NF of the upper limb. The analyzed data included patient characteristics, delay before primary care, clinical and biological signs upon arrival, pathogens involved, and the rate of amputations and mortality. Results: A total of 21 patients presented with confirmed necrotizing bacterial dermohypodermitis-NBDH with NF (NBDH-NF) affecting the upper limb. The mean delay between the onset of symptoms and the clinical examination in the Emergency Dermatology Unit was 48 h (range: 6 to 72 h). The mean delay between admission and primary surgery was 150 min (range: 60 min to 280 min). No amputations were performed. All patients were alive one year after the first surgical procedure. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that it is possible to reduce mortality and morbidity rates in NF of the upper limb. Timely diagnosis and early treatment and a multidisciplinary medico-surgical dedicated team providing care can significantly modify the outcomes. Early surgical debridement is the most important factor affecting the prognosis of these infections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:28:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29cbef7965c049a5a82c5774ca31828b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:28:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-29cbef7965c049a5a82c5774ca31828b2023-11-30T21:19:32ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832022-04-01118218210.3390/jcm11082182Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Upper Limb: Optimizing Management to Reduce ComplicationsSimone La Padula0Rosita Pensato1Antonio Zaffiro2Oana Hermeziu3Francesco D’Andrea4Chiara Pizza5Jean Paul Meningaud6Barbara Hersant7Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo Facial Surgery, Henri Mondor Hospital, University Paris XII, 51 Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94000 Creteil, FranceDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo Facial Surgery, Henri Mondor Hospital, University Paris XII, 51 Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94000 Creteil, FranceDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo Facial Surgery, Henri Mondor Hospital, University Paris XII, 51 Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94000 Creteil, FranceDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillo Facial Surgery, Henri Mondor Hospital, University Paris XII, 51 Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94000 Creteil, FranceBackground: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a severe, potentially life-threatening condition. The aim of this study is to identify strategies aimed at reducing complications in patients with NF of the upper limb. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on patients admitted to our Unit for suspected NF of the upper limb. The analyzed data included patient characteristics, delay before primary care, clinical and biological signs upon arrival, pathogens involved, and the rate of amputations and mortality. Results: A total of 21 patients presented with confirmed necrotizing bacterial dermohypodermitis-NBDH with NF (NBDH-NF) affecting the upper limb. The mean delay between the onset of symptoms and the clinical examination in the Emergency Dermatology Unit was 48 h (range: 6 to 72 h). The mean delay between admission and primary surgery was 150 min (range: 60 min to 280 min). No amputations were performed. All patients were alive one year after the first surgical procedure. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that it is possible to reduce mortality and morbidity rates in NF of the upper limb. Timely diagnosis and early treatment and a multidisciplinary medico-surgical dedicated team providing care can significantly modify the outcomes. Early surgical debridement is the most important factor affecting the prognosis of these infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/8/2182necrotizing fasciitishand infectionsoft tissue infectionhand reconstructionupper limb infectionupper limb necrotizing fasciitis |
| spellingShingle | Simone La Padula Rosita Pensato Antonio Zaffiro Oana Hermeziu Francesco D’Andrea Chiara Pizza Jean Paul Meningaud Barbara Hersant Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Upper Limb: Optimizing Management to Reduce Complications Journal of Clinical Medicine necrotizing fasciitis hand infection soft tissue infection hand reconstruction upper limb infection upper limb necrotizing fasciitis |
| title | Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Upper Limb: Optimizing Management to Reduce Complications |
| title_full | Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Upper Limb: Optimizing Management to Reduce Complications |
| title_fullStr | Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Upper Limb: Optimizing Management to Reduce Complications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Upper Limb: Optimizing Management to Reduce Complications |
| title_short | Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Upper Limb: Optimizing Management to Reduce Complications |
| title_sort | necrotizing fasciitis of the upper limb optimizing management to reduce complications |
| topic | necrotizing fasciitis hand infection soft tissue infection hand reconstruction upper limb infection upper limb necrotizing fasciitis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/8/2182 |
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