Tetanus and the plastic surgeon

Tetanus in the United States is decidedly rare, and most of us will not see a case of it during our careers. Given its lethality, it is a disease about which one must be aware. Be willing to consider it as a diagnosis, no matter the immunization status of the patient, if clinical signs and symptoms warrant. To emphasize this point, the authors present a case of an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man who sustained electrical burns when he fell from a ladder and struck a power line on his way to the ground. He developed a compartment syndrome of his left leg at the exit site and subsequently underwent fasciotomies. When he later began to exhibit signs and symptoms of sepsis, his wound was debrided, and most of his anterior compartment was resected. Despite this, his condition worsened, and his clinical picture was suggestive of tetanus, including the classic findings of trismus, risus sardonicus, and opisthotonus. Using mechanical ventilation, paralysis, narcotics, and muscle-relaxing sedatives, the authors supported him until his tetany subsided. He survived and was discharged to home when complete coverage of his burns and left leg anterior compartment was obtained. The authors discuss the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of tetanus, as well as its incidence in the general population and in the previously immunized patient.