Necrotizing soft tissue infections. Surgical or conservative treatment?

Both surgeons and dermatologists are increasingly challenged with the prompt diagnosis and management of severe soft tissue infections. Although early surgical intervention appears to be for life-saving in many patients, especially those diagnosed as necrotizing fasciitis, some patients recover well with only conservative treatment. Because most of these infections have similar initial clinical presentations, there remains a need to find reliable clinical and/or laboratory parameters that can predict the prognosis and to accordingly judge the necessity and timing of operation.

We conducted a retrospective study of case records of patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections. The clinical presentation, laboratory findings, management, and therapeutic outcome of 34 cases with necrotizing soft tissue infections were reviewed.

These infections were potentially life-threatening, with an overall mortality of 26.5%. Shock on admission was an extremely grave sign associated with a poor prognosis (P < 0.05). In this grave condition, most (80%) patients died regardless of the choice of treatment. Coagulation parameters, including platelet counts, prothrombin time (PT), and partial thromboplastin time (PTT), were available in 21 patients, of whom 16 had at least one abnormality at their initial presentation. In these 16 patients, those who underwent surgery had a significantly higher survival rate than those who were treated conservatively (P < 0.05). Prolonged PT was significantly associated with a higher mortality (P < 0.05). Surgery did seem to correct coagulopathies. However, in patients presenting with substantial alteration of all three coagulation parameters, there was no significant difference between medical treatment and surgical intervention in terms of mortality. In such cases, mortality was high (75%). On the other hand, the prognoses of patients who presented with normal coagulation profiles were rather good. Most of them recovered well despite the therapeutic option. Surgical treatment did not seem to increase additional benefits on chances of survival. Extent of tissue plane involvement, bacteriology, and site of infection had no significant influence on patients' survival.

A comprehensive, well-organized, universal approach, regardless of classification, is essential for all suspected cases of necrotizing soft tissue infections. Prompt diagnostic studies are needed, and platelet counts, PT, and PTT are readily available parameters that provide substantial information on diagnosis and treatment, thus avoiding an unwarranted loss of life or unnecessary operative sequelae. Early diagnosis and, in most cases, prompt radical surgical, intervention remain the cornerstone of successful management in these infections.