Authors

  1. Storti , Gabriele
  2. Palmesano , Marco
  3. Bottini , Davide Johan
  4. Secondi , Lorenzo
  5. Cossi , Carlo
  6. Calicchia , Alessio
  7. Giacalone , Martina
  8. Nunziata , Irene
  9. Basile , Emanuela
  10. Cervelli , Valerio

Abstract

Brown recluse spider bites may cause symptoms ranging from local cutaneous reactions to systemic visceral loxoscelism. Most bites are self-limiting, but some can lead to necrotic ulcerations with severe complications and soft tissue defects. Necrotizing ulcers are uncommon and have various clinical presentations, so no standard treatment exists. A 68-year-old man required medical attention after getting a spider bite while traveling in Tanzania. After returning to Italy, the patient presented with a posterior lower limb black papule, local edema, and fever. The lesion quickly ulcerated with an eschar. Medical history and symptoms suggested a brown recluse spider bite. Ulcer management was conservative, with careful surgical debridement and a two-step reconstruction using a split-thickness skin graft and a bilayer porous collagen matrix. Treatment resulted in functional recovery and acceptable aesthetics.