Case study: a modified topical treatment regimen for sodium warfarin-induced necrotizing fasciitis

This case study describes an atypical case of refractory, sodium warfarin-induced necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis. This patient did not initially receive surgical debridement and systemic antibiotics, the standard treatment for necrotizing fasciitis of bacterial origin. This patient's wound care regimen began with silver sulfadiazine and wet-to-dry dressings, modified to initial cleansing with a zinc-saline solution, followed with application of a zinc-saline wet dressing, impregnated with an aluminum hydroxide ointment. The patient experienced pain relief after the first application. After 4 weeks, the necrotic tissue sloughed off, the early signs of healing appeared making surgical debridement possible. Therapy with the zinc-saline dressings was continued and restoration of all tissues was documented within 225 days. If aggressive surgical therapy is not an option, the prevention of secondary complications such as infection becomes the goal of treatment until the necrotic process stops and healing begins. For this goal, a moist environment may be the optimal choice for topical therapy.