To describe clinical management of Fournier's gangrene and to characterize predictive factors associated with inpatient mortality and extended hospital stay.

The National Inpatient Sample was queried from 2004 to 2012 based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedural and diagnosis codes. Patients admitted for Fournier's gangrene who underwent debridement were selected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of inpatient mortality and extended hospital stay.

A total of 9249 patients were identified for a weighted estimate of 43,146 cases. Inpatient mortality was 4.7%. The median length of stay was 9 days (interquartile range 5-17 days). The most common procedure in addition to debridement was a complex closure (8.82%), followed by suprapubic tube placement (5.70%) and fecal diversion (4.68%). Increasing age, yearly hospital volume >10 cases, and Medicaid insurance status were associated with increased risk of mortality. Increasing age, teaching hospital status, increasing number of comorbidities, and Medicaid as a payor were predictive of increased hospital stay. Suprapubic tube placement (odds ratio [OR] 2.8 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.92-4.07], P ≤ .001), fecal diversion (OR 11.1 [95% CI 6.20-19.7], P ≤ .001), and complex wound closure (OR 4.89 [95% CI 3.97-6.89], P ≤ .001) were also predictive of increased length of stay.

Identifiable patient and hospital characteristics are predictive of both mortality and length of stay in the management of Fournier's gangrene. Overall inpatient mortality appears lower than what has been reported in the majority of prior reports. The strongest predictor for increased length of stay is the need for complex wound closure, and urinary or fecal diversion.