Differences Between Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Those Without in Cases of Necrotizing Fasciitis

Purposes This study aims to evaluate further differences between patients with diabetes and those without who have been diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis (NF) to assist clinicians in improving morbidity and mortality. Methods All patients diagnosed with NF of an extremity were retrospectively reviewed and divided into two groups based on a diagnosis of diabetes. Patient charts were reviewed to obtain multiple variables, which were compared between groups. Results From 2015 to 2021, 115 patients underwent surgical intervention due to concern for NF of an extremity with 92 patients included for data computation. Patients with diabetes had an average Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score of 9.02 compared to 7.24 (p=0.02). Patients with diabetes had a significantly higher rate of undergoing amputation when diagnosed with NF (p<0.0001). The mortality rate for diabetes and non-diabetes cohorts were 30.9% and 18.9%, respectively (p=0.2). Conclusion This study demonstrated that patients with diabetes with confirmed NF of an extremity had a significantly higher LRINEC score were more likely to undergo an amputation primarily, and were more likely to have a polymicrobial infection compared to those without. The overall mortality rate of NF was 26.1%.