What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed the medical records of 22 patients who developed gas gangrene after orthopaedic surgery between 1969 and 1987 to understand its frequency, prognosis, and predisposing factors.
What They Found
Out of 22 patients, 18 had myonecrosis and 4 had cellulitis, with Clostridia perfringens identified in 12 of 19 bacteriological studies. Four patients died within 24 hours of admission. The remaining patients were treated with surgery, antimicrobial therapy (18 patients), and hyperbaric oxygen (17 patients), resulting in severe functional disability for 13 patients and full recovery for 5.
Canadian Relevance
Gas gangrene is a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. However, this study did not involve Canadian authors or institutions.
Study Limitations
This was a retrospective review of a small number of patients over a long period (1969-1987), which limits the generalizability and modern applicability of its findings.