Modified wound closure technique in periorbital necrotizing fasciitis.

PURPOSE: To describe a modified wound closure technique in cases of necrotizing fasciitis and to describe its efficacy and usefulness.

METHODS

The clinical characteristics of patients that underwent extensive debridement and modified wound closure were recorded and documented.

RESULTS

Seven patients (5 males, 2 females; mean age = 40.9 years, standard deviation = 25.3 years) underwent debridement and modified wound closure. At discharge from the hospital, 6 patients (84.7%) achieved vision of 20/25 of better, although 1 patient lost all vision in the affected eye. Six patients (84.7%) experienced improvement in their visual acuity between admission to and discharge from the hospital. After a mean follow-up interval of 6.3 months, 5 patients (71.4%) did not require additional reconstructive interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of periorbital necrotizing fasciitis, extensive debridement with a modified wound closure is a technically feasible intervention and produced excellent clinical, functional, and aesthetic results.