POCUS superior modality for diagnosing Necrotizing fasciitis

The study summary includes the following:

• The database searched were PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, LILACS, the Cochrane databases, Google Scholar, and bibliographies of selected articles.
• QUADAS-2 tool was used to determine quality analyses.
• The researchers identified three papers, including 221 patients with a mean age of 57.
• 33% of patients had NF.
• True positive rate: 33% (73 of 221 patients).
• The sensitivity range was 85.4%–100%.
• The specificity range was 44.7% to 98.2%.
• The most sensitive was Fluid accumulation along the fascial plane, 85.4 %.
• The most specific was subcutaneous emphysema, 100%.

To conclude, POCUS has good sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing NF.

The study’s limitations were few studies, study differences prevented meta-analysis, all studies used convenience samples, raising the risk for selection bias and blinding was poorly reported.

Further reading:

Marks, Amy, et al. “Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 65, Elsevier BV, Mar. 2023, pp. 31–35. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2022.12.037.