To describe the clinical presentation and course of necrotizing fasciitis of low extremity and to analyze the factors affecting the clinical result of necrotizing fasciitis.

The medical records and MRI of 26 patient who had suffered from necrotizing fasciitis were reviewed retrospectively.

There were 18 men and 8 women with a mean age of 43.8 years. Twenty two of 26 patients had a medical disease and the most common comorbidity was diabetes mellitus. Exquisite pain, erythema, warm skin were the most consistent clinical feature at the time of admission. Only six patients had a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis initially. The interval between onset of symptom and operative treatment was average 5.4 days in 20 patients who didn't have a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis initially, and among them, 2 patients died. There were limited range motion of knee joint in 3 cases, sacral osteomyelitis in 1 case, and sciatic nerve palsy in 1 case as a complication.

We think that the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis should be considered with a high index of suspicion in patients who present with unexplained limb pain, and delay in operative treatment and wide involvement of the necrosis is associated with poor results of necrotizing fasciits.