Is free tissue transfer following necrotising fasciitis safe? A case report and review

Necrotising fasciitis is a life-threatening infection that requires radical debridement, usually accompanied by antibiotic therapy and physiologic support. Patients are often left with disabling or disfiguring soft tissue defects. Traditionally, simple reconstructive methods such as skin grafting and local flap coverage have been used to address these defects, due to concerns that free tissue transfer may increase the risk of thrombosis following infection and inflammation. We argue that once the infection has been cleared and the patient regains stability, free tissue transfer is a viable reconstructive option that may provide better functional and cosmetic results in selected cases.