Gas gangrene: a postoperative complication

Gas gangrene, also known as clostridial myonecrosis, is a severe and acute infection usually caused by Clostridium septicum, which may contaminate a wound. On rare occasions it is a complication of elective bone surgery, although it is usually found in elderly persons after hip surgery. The onset is usually sudden and it may occur from 6 hr. to 3 days after tissue injury. Diagnosis may be difficult because of the similarity of symptoms to those of anaerobic cellulitis. Treatment consists of surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, and supportive measures. The authors review the literature, discuss the clinical aspects, and present a case history.