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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Surgery

Case Report: Limb salvage in Vibrio vulnificus necrotizing fasciitis through sequential debridement and skin grafting

  • Yang Chen1,2,3
  • Mengjing Xu1,2,3
  • Shukai Zheng2,3,4
  • Liyun Chen2,3,4
  • Zijian Huang1,2,3
  • Weiping Zeng1,2,3
  • Yang Hao1,2,3
  • Shijie Tang1,2,3
  • Wancong Zhang1,2,3,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
  2. 2Plastic Surgery Institute, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
  3. 3Shantou Plastic Surgery Clinical Research Center, Shantou, Guangdong, China
  4. 4Research Center of Translational Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
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Abstract

Background: Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) is a highly aggressive pathogen that causes rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis and septic shock, frequently leading to limb amputation or death. Limb salvage in this setting remains challenging, particularly in diabetic patients.

Case presentation: A 72-year-old diabetic male developed V. vulnificus necrotizing fasciitis of the left upper limb after handling marine fish, presenting with local erythema, swelling, warmth, pain, and septic shock. He underwent five sequential debridement procedures combined with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD), followed by artificial dermis application and split-thickness skin grafting, ultimately achieving successful limb salvage.

Conclusion: In this patient, serial reassessment, staged debridement with VSD, and delayed wound reconstruction were associated with infection control and limb preservation. This case may inform the multidisciplinary management of severe V. vulnificus necrotizing fasciitis.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{chen2026case,
  title = {{Case Report: Limb salvage in Vibrio vulnificus necrotizing fasciitis through sequential debridement and skin grafting}},
  author = {Yang Chen and Mengjing Xu and Shukai Zheng and Liyun Chen and Zijian Huang and Weiping Zeng and Yang Hao and Shijie Tang and Wancong Zhang},
  journal = {Frontiers in Surgery},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fsurg.2026.1944678},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2026.1944678},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Case Report: Limb salvage in Vibrio vulnificus necrotizing fasciitis through sequential debridement and skin grafting
AU  - Yang Chen
AU  - Mengjing Xu
AU  - Shukai Zheng
AU  - Liyun Chen
AU  - Zijian Huang
AU  - Weiping Zeng
AU  - Yang Hao
AU  - Shijie Tang
AU  - Wancong Zhang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/21
JO  - Frontiers in Surgery
DO  - 10.3389/fsurg.2026.1944678
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2026.1944678
AB  - Background: Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus) is a highly aggressive pathogen that causes rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis and septic shock, frequently leading to limb amputation or death. Limb salvage in this setting remains challenging, particularly in diabetic patients.  Case presentation: A 72-year-old diabetic male developed V. vulnificus necrotizing fasciitis of the left upper limb after handling marine fish, presenting with local erythema, swelling, warmth, pain, and septic shock. He underwent five sequential debridement procedures combined with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD), followed by artificial dermis application and split-thickness skin grafting, ultimately achieving successful limb salvage.  Conclusion: In this patient, serial reassessment, staged debridement with VSD, and delayed wound reconstruction were associated with infection control and limb preservation. This case may inform the multidisciplinary management of severe V. vulnificus necrotizing fasciitis.
SN  - 2296-875X
ER  -