Additional meanings of 'se'?

Question

The sentence "*Scusa se non mi sono fatta più sentire*" means, as I understand it: "*Sorry if I didn't get in touch with you anymore*". Or is there a better translation? Anyway, what seems strange to me is the "if". It's somehow the same as "I am sorry in case I didn't get in touch with you anymore". But I know if I got in touch with the person or not, it's not that I need to say "if thats the case I am sorry". So basically "Sorry I didn't get in touch with you" or in Italian "Scusa non mi sono fatta più sentire". I asked an Italian native and she told me this sounds wrong/like a foreigner. I then asked if "*Scusa che non mi sono fatta più sentire*" is better and she meant it also doesn't sound quite right, but she couldn't explain me the details. So question to you: Do I need the "se" in the sentence? Why? Is there maybe another meaning of "se" that actually fits better? I am native German by the way and maybe it just seems strange to me because I wouldn't say it that way in my language.

Answer 1

better ..."I didn't kept in touch"