The swelling in her back worsened over two months. At 38, the woman arrived at the hospital with a fever, rapid breathing, and confusion; she had had untreated type 2 diabetes for five years. Doctors diagnosed sepsis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and necrotizing fasciitis, a rare infection that rapidly destroys tissue beneath the skin.
During emergency surgery, doctors removed dead skin, fat, and muscle. The wound measured 40 by 30 centimeters and exposed parts of the ribs, shoulder blade, and spine. The team postponed reconstruction and prepared the area before covering it with grafts.
A month later, they covered nearly 70 % of the wound with skin from the thigh and nearby tissue; three weeks later, they grafted the rest with skin from the other thigh. The grafts took, and the woman made a full recovery.
