Predicting Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Lower Extremity Necrotizing Fasciitis

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare but limb- and life-threatening soft-tissue infection. It is among the most challenging surgical infections faced by surgeons, and is often accompanied by severe systemic toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive power of serum lactate and creatinine levels for mortality and morbidity in lower extremity NF. A retrospective cohort analysis of 87 patients with lower extremity NF was performed to evaluate the management techniques and the amputation and survival rates according to serum lactate and creatinine levels as well as the time between the onset of symptoms and surgery. The mean time between the onset of symptoms and surgery was 3.7 days. As the time between the onset of symptoms and surgery increased, the rate of amputation and mortality significantly increased (p