Conservative management of necrotizing fasciitis of the eyelids
Received 12 November 2001; accepted 25 April 2002.
Abstract
Objective
To describe the management of patients with necrotizing fasciitis of the eyelids.
Design
Retrospective, noncomparative interventional case series.
Participants
Seven patients with necrotizing fasciitis limited to the eyelids.
Methods
Retrospective review of the charts and photographs of seven patients with necrotizing fasciitis limited to the eyelids.
Main outcome measures
Eyelid function and appearance, mortality, and morbidity.
Results
Seven of seven patients had good eyelid function and adequate appearance without reconstruction after healing. No deaths occurred.
Conclusions
Eyelid necrosis due to necrotizing fasciitis can be a devastating condition. The morbidity and mortality of selected cases are reduced with prompt and appropriate antimicrobial therapy and nonaggressive debridement of necrotic tissue after autodemarcation of the necrotic zone.
Manuscript no. 210573.
1Saint Louis University Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
2Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri ,USA
Reprint requests to Morris E. Hartstein, MD, Saint Louis University Eye Institute, 1755 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63104. E-mail: hartstm@slu.edu.
ABSTRACT