Secondary Intention Healing After Debridement for Bilateral Periorbital Necrotizing Fasciitis

Abstract

A 75-year-old male with a history of poorly controlled diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and obesity presented with severe bilateral periorbital edema with necrosis and purulent discharge. Although hemodynamically stable, laboratory markers indicated systemic toxicity. Imaging showed bilateral periorbital edema extending into the frontal scalp, temporal fossa, and right orbit. Suspected to have necrotizing fasciitis, the patient underwent urgent debridement of bilateral upper and lower eyelids and was found to have postseptal extension of necrosis into the right orbit. During his hospitalization, he was treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobials and underwent a second surgery for exploration and debridement. The patient was lost to follow-up and found to have healed by secondary intention without any surgical reconstruction. Our case demonstrates not only a rare case of necrotizing fasciitis involving all 4 eyelids, but also an exceptional cosmetic and functional result after secondary intention healing.