Surgical Management of Pyoderma Gangrenosum: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Pyoderma gangrenosum(PG) is an uncommon cutaneous vascular disease that typically presents as a painful and destructive ulceration on the anterior surface of the legs. The etiology of PG is currently unknown. But, the association with many immunologic disorders and its clinical response to immunomodulating agents suggest an immune etiology. A common feature of patients with PG is the presence of pathergy(the induction of lesion following injury of the skin). The trauma of surgery can be sufficient to induce pathergy, thus paradoxically limiting the usefulness of surgical treatment of PG. For that reason, medical treatments have been commonly used, while surgical treatments have been regarded not suitable. However, the use of the classic systemic agents is limited by their side effects and contraindications. Moreover, the large, problematic ulcers take too long to heal with medical management only. We present our experience in closing large wounds with the goal of decreasing morbidity, drug side effects and hospital stay by combination of medical and surgical therapy(split thickness skin graft). And authors advocate that surgical management is not a contraindication and may be considered as a selective modality in treatment of PG.