Avoiding amputation: Maurice's recovery with V.A.C.® Therapy
September 22, 2026 | Read time: 5 min
A cold doesn't usually end with a hospital bed and a conversation about amputation. For Maurice Bauer, a 32-year-old firefighter and deputy mayor from the small German village of Schierke, it did.
His recovery is a story of resilience, a close relationship with his doctor and advanced wound care, including V.A.C. Veraflo™ Therapy, that helped save his leg. Here's how Maurice came back to the life he loves.
A rash that turned into an emergency
Maurice has spent his life in motion. He's a father to a young daughter, a firefighter of 19 years, a deputy mayor and a caretaker of a home full of animals.
"I don't know what I would do without the ability to walk because I would not be able to be a firefighter, or play with my daughter," he says.
It started with a cold in December that lingered for weeks. In January, Maurice noticed a rash, small red points on his leg that didn't seem like much.
Within days, everything changed. "The rash inflamed," he says. "I had to call an ambulance. It was very painful."
The diagnosis was rare: a leucocytoclastic vasculitis that progressed into necrotizing fasciitis, a fast-moving infection that can be deadly.
"There were a lot of tests and the leg kept getting worse," Maurice says. "I couldn't walk."
A difficult treatment decision
Dr. Tino Breitfeld, a surgeon and a wound care specialist, knew the danger. "As long as we have an open wound, there is a risk of losing life," he explains.
After an MRI, Maurice was rushed into an emergency operation. "I had necrosis on my leg," he says. The risk of amputation was real. “I was scared.”
"Many patients get an amputation if they have a necrotizing fasciitis because you have to cut everything out," Dr. Breitfeld says.
The most critical moment came right after the operation. As Dr. Breitfeld puts it: "Do we amputate in order to definitely save his life or do we wait?"
They chose to wait, and to fight for the leg.
How V.A.C. Therapy helped clean the wound
Dr. Breitfeld and the vascular surgery team set a clear goal: avoid amputation and get Maurice home. The plan centered around Solventum Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT).
"My plan was to save his limb," Dr. Breitfeld says. "And immediately we do the Veraflo Therapy in order to clean the wound and manage the inflammation."
While necrotic tissue remained after surgery, a nerve sat right in the operating field. Another cut to remove that tissue risked Maurice losing the use of his foot. NPWT offered a gentler path.
The therapy helped clean the wound, promote new tissue growth and manage inflammation. As the inflammation decreased, the team grew more confident the amputation could be avoided.
The plan followed several stages using different Solventum NPWT technologies for each situation.
Maurice started on V.A.C.® Veraflo Therapy with a Solventum Veraflo Cleanse Choice™ Dressing to help clean the wound and manage inflammation. Once the wound improved, the team switched to the V.A.C. Granufoam™ Dressing with the ActiV.A.C.™ Unit to further support new tissue granulation. Then they moved to the Snap™ Therapy System, a smaller, more mobile system with a wearable cartridge.
That progression made it possible for Maurice to leave the hospital and recover at home. "And that was great, great news," Maurice says.
Why mobility mattered so much
For Dr. Breitfeld, this was never just a wound. It was a person his own age, with a family and a full life ahead.
"His whole life depends on mobility," he says.
Maurice felt the same pull toward home. "I was thinking about the future, how I can play with my daughter and just walk with my dog. The small things."
With nearly 10 years of experience using V.A.C. Therapy systems, Dr. Breitfeld trusted the approach. "In my opinion, Solventum Negative Pressure Wound Therapy is always effective " he says.
Where Maurice is today
The wound is closed. Maurice has a small scar on his leg. He plays with his daughter, walks his dog, cares for his animals and still serves as a firefighter and deputy mayor.
Months after his discharge, the two met again, this time as colleagues. Maurice arrived on his first firefighter call to assist with rescuing an injured woman from the forest. Dr. Breitfeld was part of the group who had called the fire department for help.
"I'm so happy because I know how close the amputation was," Dr. Breitfeld says. Reflecting on the whole experience, he adds: "In this moment, if you think about it, it becomes clear that you have to see every patient individually. And I think it was the most important thing."
For Maurice, the joy is simple. "When I was finally able to walk again, it was a great feeling.”
Maurice's recovery shows what's possible when a dedicated medical team, personal resilience and the right solutions come together.
Frequently asked questions
What is necrotizing fasciitis?
Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare, fast-moving infection that destroys tissue. It can spread quickly and become life-threatening. In Maurice's case, it developed after a leucocytoclastic vasculitis, a rare reaction that followed a lingering cold.
How did negative pressure wound therapy help Maurice’s care team avoid amputation?
Negative pressure wound therapy can help remove exudate and infectious material and prepare the wound bed for closure, creating an environment that promotes new tissue growth. In Maurice's case, it let the team debride the wound and avoid further surgery near a vulnerable nerve, helping preserve his leg and the use of his foot.
What wound care products from Solventum were used in Maurice's treatment?
Maurice's care used several Solventum negative pressure wound therapies in stages: Solventum Veraflo Therapy with a Solventum Veraflo Cleanse Choice Dressing to help clean the wound and manage inflammation, then V.A.C. Granufoam Dressing with the ActiV.A.C. Unit to further support new tissue granulation and finally the Snap™ Therapy System for greater mobility.
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