Conservative management of necrotizing fasciitis of the eyelids

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. (C) 2002 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.