Surgical management of pyoderma gangrenosum: Case report and review

BACKGROUND. Commonly used treatments for pyoderma gangrenosum are medical, with immunosuppressive agents employed most often. OBJECTIVE. TO report a case and discuss the indications for radical surgica l treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum. METHODS. Analysis of a case of Crohn's disease-associated pyoderma gangreno sum treated with immunosuppression followed by amputation, and a review of the literature on surgical management of pyoderma gangrenosum. RESULTS. In unstable patients with intractable multiple medical problems, s urgical treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum may be indicated by the existence of these life-threatening comorbidities. The recent literature suggests th at surgical management of pyoderma gangrenosum may also be appropriate in o ther special circumstances. CONCLUSIONS. Surgical management, including amputation, may have a role in the management of pyoderma gangrenosum. Further research is needed to delin eate precisely the circumstances and patient factors that are appropriate i ndications for such surgery.