A case of an uncontrollable fistula after incisional drainage of submandibular necrotizing fasciitis treated by Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with a V.A.C.® ATS system

Necrotizing fasciitis is treated by incisional drainage or immediate debridement. Generally, an infected wound should not be sutured or closured, but should be allowed to secondarily heal as an open wound. Treatment of necrotizing fasciitis involving the neck or submandibular region requires careful attention to major blood vessels or nerves. We therefore could not perform debridement radically. The wound should be continuously irrigated or applied ointment, but the presence of a fistula sometimes leads to prolonged wound healing.We describe our experience with an uncontrollable fistula attributed to debridement of submandibular necrotizing fasciitis, although irrigation had been continued for 6 weeks. After performing Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, with a V.A.C.® ATS system good granulation tissue proliferated in 3 days, and the fistula disappeared. The wound completely healed in 1 week. Furthermore, the clinical course has been good, with no recurrence of a fistula after 3 months. We report a case of early healing of an uncontrollable fistula treated by a V.A.C.® ATS system.