[Postoperative quality of life of patients with a bacterial necrotizing dermis-hypodermitis or necrotizing fasciitis,...

Bacterial necrotizing dermis-hypodermitis and necrotizing fasciitis (BNDH-NF) are serious life-threatening soft-tissue infections. The object is to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients who have been operated in our plastic surgery departement.

This is a retrospective study of cases who have been treated at Nancy University Hospital between 2005 and 2014. We analyzed the perioperative data (demographic, clinical, bacteriological), the surgical data (excision, reconstruction) and the follow up data (consequences, mortality). The quality of life was assessed by the Short-Form 36 score, and the patients' satisfaction was assessed by a four-level scale.

We analyzed 23 patients with an average age of 60 years (28-84 years). The main comorbidities were diabetes (43 %) and obesity (39 %). The average number of surgical excision was about 1.9 (1-5) and the average excised body surface area was about 5 % (1-16 %). The short-term mortality was about 17 %. The mortality rate has been statistically correlated with the surgically excised body surface area (short-term 95 days: P=0.02; and long-term: P=0.003). The statistical analysis has shown a strong relative linear relationship between number of surgical excision and the physical score of QOL (P<0.001), between number of surgical excision and mental score of QOL (P=0.032), and between age and physical score of QOL (P≤0.021). The statistical analysis has also shown a strong relative linear relationship between E. coli infections and physical score of QOL (P=0.01). The percentage of patients' satisfaction in our study was evaluated at 86 %.

We have found that multiple surgical excisions, an advanced age of patients and E. coli infections have been associated with poor QOL. The mortality rate increased in relation with the importance of excised body surface. In spite of the gravity of these infections, our patients were satisfied of their treatment.