Cellulitis Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
Treatment #3: Surgical Examination and Drainage
In severe and advance cases of cellulitis, there can be crepitus (which means that there is air underneath the skin), circumferential cellulitis (cellulitis in a pattern that surrounds the entire limb such as around the calf), necrotic looking skin, abscess, and severe pain. Surgery and drainage may be required in these cases to debride the dead skin tissue and to allow the rest of the infected area to heal better.
In circumferential cellulitis, surgical decompression may be needed in case of compartment syndrome (a painful condition where the pressure within the muscles build up cutting off the blood supply that carries oxygen and nutrients). Abscesses should be drained to allow healing.
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