Management of cutaneous manifestations of extensive purpura fulminans in a burn unit.

Purpura fulminans is a rare disease, which may have devastating cutaneous manifestations. It usually follows an infectious illness, and although it most commonly occurs in children, it can occur in adults. The pathogenesis may be related to a relative deficiency of protein C and/or protein S. A case of an adult male is presented to illustrate the management of the severe full-thickness skin loss and the use of surgical excision and allograft in this disease.