Gangrene

Patients (and relatives) should be made aware of the potential life- and limb-threatening nature of the condition and the necessity for surgery and antibiotic therapy. Recurrence of necrotising fasciitis is rare. However, significant functional and cosmetic morbidity may remain following initial surgical therapies, which may require subsequent reconstruction, and patients should be made aware of this possibility. Patients with ischaemic gangrene should be strongly advised to stop smoking.