Piscine Xenografts in the Management of Necrotizing Foot Infections: A Case Series

Introduction: Necrotizing foot infections are severe, rapidly progressing conditions that often require aggressive surgical intervention and carry a high risk of morbidity. The incidence of necrotizing fasciitis in diabetics is as high as 40%-60%, with initial mortality rate of 15%-35%. Effective wound management is crucial for recovery and limb salvage. Xenogenic skin graft substitutes are applied wounds to enhance the environment, replace dermis, and minimize wound contraction. Piscine acellular dermal matrix grafts have a native dermal structural, porosity and biomechanical properties that favors cell ingrowth and provides a bacterial barrier with Omega3 fatty acids, which assist the wound in leaving the chronic inflammatory state. This case series investigates the efficacy of piscine xenografts in managing necrotizing foot infections.Methods:A case series 3 patients with necrotizing foot infections were treated with piscine xenografts following initial stabilization and debridements. All patients presented with severe infection and significant tissue loss. After thorough surgical debridement, piscine xenografts were applied to the wound sites. The grafts were monitored for integration, infection control, and wound healing progress.Results:All three patients exhibited successful integration of the piscine xenografts with no signs of rejection or secondary infection. By the end of the first month, all wounds showed substantial granulation tissue formation and reduced wound size. All defects were completely healed by 14 weeks. All patients were able to avoid major amputations, retaining functional use of their affected limbs.Discussion: The results from this case series indicate that piscine xenografts can be a highly effective option for managing the soft tissue loss created by necrotizing foot infections. Their ability to integrate with human tissue and promote rapid healing underscores their potential as a superior alternative to traditional wound management techniques. Although the sample size is small, the consistent positive outcomes suggest significant promise. Further research with larger patient cohorts and comparative studies with other treatment modalities is recommended to confirm these findings and refine usage protocols. This case series contributes valuable clinical evidence supporting the adoption of innovative biological materials in the treatment of complex infections.References: