Necrotising fasciitis is a serious infection that is often associated with a long recovery period, particularly if the condition was not treated in the early stages.
Recovering from necrotising fasciitis
Necrotising fasciitis must be treated with intravenous antibiotics and surgical debridement, during which all of the dead tissue must be removed. It is vital to excise all of the tissue and muscles that has been affected or the bacteria will remain inside the body, making treatment ineffective. More than operation may therefore be required.
After surgery, a patient should be closely monitored in hospital. He/she should remain on intravenous antibiotics. If the surgical wound is too large to stitch, it must be packed with gauze and bandaged, allowing the healthy flesh to rebuild. Eventually it will be possible to stitch the wound. The stitches can be tightened every day to stretch the skin slowly back together.
In some severe cases, the patient will have such a large area of tissue removed that vacuum assisted closure is necessary. This can be a very time-consuming process and a patient will need to stay in hospital for protracted period.
How long will the recovery process take?
The timeframe for a recovery will depend upon how far the infection spreads. If only a small amount of tissue must be removed, a patient may be discharged from hospital within a week.
But if the infection spreads to a large area of tissue and muscle, the recovery process will be long and often painful. Indeed, some will need routine visits from a district nurse after being discharged, as dressings may be required for some time.
When a large area of tissue is affected, it is possible that the infection also spreads to the bloodstream. If so, a patient will become critically unwell and will need to remain in the intensive care unit until their condition becomes stable.
Sadly some patients will never fully recover from necrotising fasciitis. Along with an unsightly defect, there may also be ongoing physical and emotional complications, including reduced function, sensation and depression.
Is medical error to blame?
If you have been left with necrotising fasciitis complications, you must consider whether medical error is to blame. If a large area of tissue became necrotic because of a delay in diagnosis and treatment, medical professionals may be accountable for your current condition. A solicitor who specialises in this area of the law will be able to advise you further.
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