Necrotizing fasciitis of the knee following primary total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare, life-threatening and rapidly spreading soft-tissue infection that results in necrosis of the muscle, fascia and surrounding tissue. It can be result of a polymicrobial synergistic infection or a streptococcal infection. The authors report a case of necrotizing fasciitis occurring in the knee of a 65-year-old woman following an uneventful primary total knee arthroplasty and resulting in above-the-knee amputation. Having in mind severe infections like necrotising fasciitis, one should be aware of the possibility of such postoperative complications especially in patients with risk factors even in routine procedures like a total knee arthroplasty.