Surgical treatment of granuloma inguinale

Granuloma inguinale is an indolent, progressive, ulcerative and granulomatous skin disease caused by Calymmatobacterium granulomatosis. It is generally treated with antibiotics. However, long-standing and complicated disease requires surgical treatment. Two patients with extensive and multiple perianal fistulas and abscesses unresponsive to medical treatment were managed with radical surgical resection. The first patient healed by primary intention, but a diverting colostomy was made for the second patient and the tissue defect was closed with a rotation flap. Follow-up at 4 years revealed the disappearance of the symptoms and the absence of recurrence in both patients.