Fournier's Gangrene Can Cause Elephantitis of the Scrotum

A Panama man recently had to have his distended scrotum amputated because of Fournier's Gangrene, the flesh-eating disease of the genitals

Monday, February 3, 2020 - IFL Science recently published an interesting article about a man in Panama that left his inguinal hernia untreated causing blockages so severe that his scrotum started to swell to the size of a basketball, hanging down below his knees and his bowels protruding out through his abdomen. The report tells that complications resembling that of Fournier's Gangrene can arise from leaving a hernia untreated allowing necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh-eating disease to set in. According to IFL Sciences "The hernia led to lymphedema (a blockage in the lymphatic system that prevents lymph fluid from draining, causing a buildup of fluid and swelling) of the scrotum, which had gradually worsened. They diagnosed him with Fournier's gangrene, a sometimes life-threatening type of necrotizing fasciitis, or "flesh-eating" infection, that primarily affects the genitals." After several attempts to remove only the tissue that had rotted, doctors in Panama decided to remove the man's scrotum. Images of the operation can be seen here (graphic) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214442019302694#fig1.

Fournier Gangrene is a type of flesh-eating disease that affects mostly men and patients usually exhibit symptoms such as pain, warmth, soreness, redness, and swelling in the perineum, an area in between the anus and scrotum in man and anus and vulva in women. The disease has been linked most closely to individuals that take SGLT2 type 2 diabetes drugs and have developed a weakened immune system. Older diabetic men in nursing homes where the care is less than optimal are at the greatest risk of contracting Fourniers. Often, the only sign an elderly nursing home patient has the disease is when an orderly can no longer enter the room because of the unmistakable stench of rotting flesh.

The US Food and Drug Administration has found at least 55 cases of Fournier's Gangrene a disease that goes largely unreported or misdiagnoses as simple necrotizing fasciitis. On August 29, 2018, the FDA issued a warning for diabetic patients to be alerted to the possibility of having the disease. "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that cases of a rare but serious infection of the genitals and area around the genitals have been reported with the class of type 2 diabetes medicines called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors." Of the 55 cases of Fournier's Gangrene officially identified, 21 were taking the anti-diabetic drug Canagliflozin (Invokana), making the connection undeniable. Since a preponderance of elderly diabetic patients are clients of nursing homes in the southern United States, orderlies and other medical staff members should pay special attention to making sure their patient's genitals are well-washed and dried to prevent bacteria from developing.

The FDA warns that patients taking the following diabetic drugs should be monitored: Invokamet (canagliflozin and metformin), Invokamet XR (canagliflozin and metformin), Farxiga (dapagliflozin), Xigduo XR (dapagliflozin and metformin, and Qtern (dapagliflozin and saxagliptin),

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Lawyers for Fournier's Gangrene

OnderLaw, LLC is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. The Onder Law Firm has represented clients throughout the United States in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation such as Pradaxa, Lexapro and Yasmin/Yaz, where the firm's attorneys held significant leadership roles in the litigation, as well as Actos, DePuy, Risperdal and others. The Onder Law Firm has won more than $300 million in four talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits in St. Louis. Law firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation.