Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Predictable Burden in Rural Kenya

BACKGROUND

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a devastating disease with substantial morbidity and mortality. Poor outcomes are attributed to delayed diagnosis and management. Tenwek Hospital, a teaching and referral center in rural Kenya, manages many cases despite variable resources. We aimed to understand the burden of NF.

METHODS

All patients with admission NF diagnosis who presented in 2017 were reviewed for demographics, investigations, treatment, and outcomes. The primary outcome was unfavorable outcome defined as in-hospital mortality or amputation. Secondary outcomes were discharge diagnosis of NF and cost. Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score was calculated. Logistic regression models were utilized to assess the impact of risk factors.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients were identified with an average age of 49.2 (±21) years. Medical comorbidities were present in 48% and history of trauma in 58%. Discharge diagnosis of NF occurred in 61% (N = 41). Overall, mortality occurred in 10% (N = 7) of patients with an initial NF diagnosis. At discharge, patients without NF had favorable outcomes in 96% (N = 25) compared to 78% (N = 32) with NF (p = 0.043). Final NF diagnosis costs 122,098 Kenyan Shillings more (95% confidence interval 36,142-208,054) than non-NF diagnosis (p value = 0.006). Factors associated with unfavorable outcome include diabetes mellitus, any comorbidity, increased heart rate, fever, hyperglycemia, anemia, and discharge NF diagnosis. Increased LRINEC score was associated with discharge NF diagnosis (p = 0.0006) and unfavorable outcome (p = 0.0157).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with NF in rural Kenya experience delays to presentation, unfavorable outcomes, and substantial costs. Certain factors, including LRINEC score, help predict diagnosis and outcome.

Variations in the anatomy of ansa cervicalis

With the emerging utilisation of ansa cervicalis in nerve reconstructive surgery, it is important for surgeons to be conversant with the anatomy of these nerves. This descriptive cross sectional study aimed at describing the morphology and topographic anatomy of ansa cervicalis. We examined 38 adult human formalin-fixed cadavers. The superior root was present in 38 (100%) cases and 37 (97%) cases, on the right and left sides, respectively. More than half (56%) of these roots were located superior to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. The inferior root, on the other hand, was present in 34 (89.5%) cases on the right side and 31 (81.6%) cases on the left side. Of all the inferior roots, 81.5% were located lateral to the internal jugular vein. The loop was seen in all the cases that had the inferior root, and was mostly (64.6%) located above the superior belly of the omohyoid muscle. Knowledge of the anatomy of ansa cervicalis is not only important for nerve reconstruction surgeries, but also for operations in the neck, so as to avoid injuring the great vessels that are closely related to it.