If you survived an attack of necrotising fasciitis, you may be glad to be alive. However, if a significant area of tissue was damaged, you may find that it takes a long time to recover and that life is never the same again.
Suffering with necrotising fasciitis
If you have been treated in hospital for necrotising fasciitis, it is likely that you were there for a long time. Once established, the infection can require several surgical procedures before it is halted, each episode of surgery removing more tissue from the body and causing more damage.
Throughout this time, it is likely that you were supported in an intensive care or high dependency unit as your body fought to survive.
Before leaving hospital, it may have been possible to carry out plastic surgery to repair some of the damage done to your body by both the illness and the debridement procedures. It may be that more surgery is planned as your body becomes stronger.
Long-term issues
- Necrotising fasciitis frequently attacks the abdomen and this can leave you with long-term damage to the bowel. It may be that this damage can be repaired or it may be that you require a colostomy to divert the function of the bowel on either a temporary or permanent basis.
- Necrotising fasciitis also attacks the limbs and, when the infection becomes severe, it is sometimes necessary to amputate a limb in order to stop the infection spreading further.
The impact of such devastating physical damage can change your life entirely. It may become very difficult to work, travel and live independently.
The psychological impact of necrotising fasciitis can also be hugely significant. The scarring left by the surgical treatment can be both extensive and unsightly. Plastic surgery may restore the damaged areas to some degree but many people who have suffered with necrotising fasciitis find their appearance distressing.
Patients who lose a limb require considerable long-term adaptation and physiotherapy. They may require changes to their accommodation and long-term care.
Having to stay in hospital for an extended period of time can also cause psychological distress and the patient may find it hard to recover their confidence and independence after discharge from hospital.
Medical negligence
If medical negligence contributed to your poor outcome, compensation may be extremely helpful in making your life a little easier.
If medical practitioners were slow to recognise or act on your symptoms, it may be considered that their delay caused you to suffer worse long-term effects. In these circumstances, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
Contact us to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor. We have supported numerous people in compensation claims for necrotising fasciitis outcomes and would be happy to advise you.
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