title: Factors affecting mortality in Hong Kong patients with upper limb necrotising fasciitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify predictive factors for mortality of patients with upper limb necrotising fasciitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hospitals in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical records of 29 patients treated in the hospitals were traced and analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Possible predictive factors for mortality as evaluated by application of Fisher's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall mortality was 28%. Digital infections conferred a lower mortality, but progressive necrosis necessitated amputation. Vibrio vulnificus was the commonest organism identified in association with marine injury and in patients with cirrhosis. Prognostic indicators with decreasing significance include deranged renal and liver function, thrombocytopaenia, proximal involvement (elbow or above) initially, and presence of hypotension upon admission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With a P value of less than 0.05, deranged renal and liver function, thrombocytopaenia, initial proximal involvement, and hypotension on admission were predictors of mortality in necrotising fasciitis affecting the upper limbs. The ALERTS (Abnormal Liver function, Extent of infection, Renal impairment, Thrombocytopenia, and Shock) score with a cutoff of 3 appeared to predict mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Caritas Medical Centre, Shamshuipo, Kowloon, Hong Kong. mbbs06@gmail.com
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Marianne M Y
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Sally H S
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity