[Necrotic ulcer in a general surgery department at Gabriel Tour Hospital]

Our objectives were to determine the frequency, clinical, and therapeutic aspects and to evaluate the cost of care.

This was a retrospective, analytical study, , carried out in the general surgery department of the teaching hospital Gabriel Touré from 1 January 2000 to December 2008. Were included in this study all patients operated for necrotic ulcer in the service.

Seventy -nine (79) patients were identified which represents 0.6 % of our admissions. There were 48 men (60.8%) and 31 women (39.2%) . The sex ratio was 1.5 . The average age was 33.6 years, with extremes ranging from 31-81 years and the standard deviation = 19.7. The diagnosis was based on clinical and paraclinical investigations in all patients (100 %). The average period of consultation was 1.2 months, with extremes ranging from 1 - 24 months and the standard deviation = 0.8. Traditional medications were given to 38 patients (48.1%). The ulcer was multiple in 20 patients (25.3%). In 57 cases (72.2%) it sat in the lower limb and in 22 cases (27.8 %) in the upper limb. The average diameter was 24.3 cm and the standard deviation = 15.1. Trauma and infection were, respectively, the main causes in 63 patients (79.7 %) and 10 patients (12.6%). The most frequent germs found were the Staphylococcus aureus in 40 patients (50.6%) and Proteus mirabilis in 10 patients (12.7%). The thin skin autograft was performed in 66 patients (83.5 %). Healing was complete in 52 patients (78.8%), with a morbidity of 21.2 % (14 cases) . Infection was observed on graft and edema, 5 cases each (7.6%), graft rejection 4 cases (6.1%). The average hospital stay was 2.3 months. The average cost was 237,450 with a range of 75,000 to 500,000 FCFA.

Necrotic ulcer is an uncommon pathology in our department. The lack of consultation and the use of traditional medication are the main factors of seriousness.