Wound botulism: a life-threatening complication of hand injuries

Botulism is usually associated with the ingestion of food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, and these organisms occasionally contaminate traumatic injuries. It is unusual for them to result in clinical infection, but when this occurs, it is a catastrophe completely out of proportion to the degree of wound injury. A case is presented in which typical manifestations of descending cranial nerve and generalized motor paralysis were noted. Prolonged respiratory and general supportive assistance was required, as is usually the case. Although mortality rates in this disease are high, recovery is usually complete in survivors and was true in this instance.