Amniotic membranes as a temporary wound dressing in necrotizing fasciitis.

A diabetic patient was seen at Magee-Womens Hospital with a vulvar abscess extending to the abdomen. Necrotizing fasciitis was diagnosed at operation, and the involved tissue was widely excised. The authors describe the successful use of amniotic membranes as a temporary wound dressing. The benefits of this method over conventional gauze dressings are easy availability, better adherence to the wound, less pain, and negligible cost to the patient.