Gas gangrene Gangrene Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply. Small Bowel Obstruction, also known as clostridial myonecrosis Myonecrosis A severe condition resulting from bacteria invading healthy muscle from adjacent traumatized muscle or soft tissue. The infection originates in a wound contaminated with bacteria of the genus Clostridium. C. perfringens accounts for the majority of cases (over eighty percent), while C. novyi, C. septicum, and C. histolyticum cause most of the other cases. Clostridia, is a life-threatening muscle and soft tissue Soft Tissue Soft Tissue Abscess infection that usually develops after traumatic inoculation with Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens), but can also develop spontaneously in association with other Clostridium species. Sudden, severe muscle pain Muscle Pain Ion Channel Myopathy classically develops shortly after the injury. Skin Skin The skin, also referred to as the integumentary system, is the largest organ of the body. The skin is primarily composed of the epidermis (outer layer) and dermis (deep layer). The epidermis is primarily composed of keratinocytes that undergo rapid turnover, while the dermis contains dense layers of connective tissue. Skin: Structure and Functions color changes (red/purple to black), tenderness, bullae Bullae Erythema Multiforme formation, and crepitus Crepitus Osteoarthritis are also present and progress rapidly. Most of the time, diagnosis is established clinically. Once the diagnosis is suspected, intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy should be started and emergent surgical debridement Debridement The removal of foreign material and devitalized or contaminated tissue from or adjacent to a traumatic or infected lesion until surrounding healthy tissue is exposed. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome should be performed.
Last updated: 8 Feb, 2021
Gas gangrene Gangrene Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply. Small Bowel Obstruction (clostridial myonecrosis Myonecrosis A severe condition resulting from bacteria invading healthy muscle from adjacent traumatized muscle or soft tissue. The infection originates in a wound contaminated with bacteria of the genus Clostridium. C. perfringens accounts for the majority of cases (over eighty percent), while C. novyi, C. septicum, and C. histolyticum cause most of the other cases. Clostridia) is a rapidly progressing infection of muscle and soft tissue Soft Tissue Soft Tissue Abscess most commonly caused by Clostridium species.
Localized signs and symptoms:
Gas
gangrene
Gangrene
Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply.
Small Bowel Obstruction:
Erythema
Erythema
Redness of the skin produced by congestion of the capillaries. This condition may result from a variety of disease processes.
Chalazion of the right shoulder with an area of
necrosis
Necrosis
The death of cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury or failure of the blood supply.
Ischemic Cell Damage can be seen.
Gas
gangrene
Gangrene
Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply.
Small Bowel Obstruction of the right
leg
Leg
The lower leg, or just “leg” in anatomical terms, is the part of the lower limb between the knee and the ankle joint. The bony structure is composed of the tibia and fibula bones, and the muscles of the leg are grouped into the anterior, lateral, and posterior compartments by extensions of fascia.
Leg: Anatomy and
pelvis
Pelvis
The pelvis consists of the bony pelvic girdle, the muscular and ligamentous pelvic floor, and the pelvic cavity, which contains viscera, vessels, and multiple nerves and muscles. The pelvic girdle, composed of 2 “hip” bones and the sacrum, is a ring-like bony structure of the axial skeleton that links the vertebral column with the lower extremities.
Pelvis: Anatomy, showing
swelling
Swelling
Inflammation and discoloration of the right
thigh
Thigh
The thigh is the region of the lower limb found between the hip and the knee joint. There is a single bone in the thigh called the femur, which is surrounded by large muscles grouped into 3 fascial compartments.
Thigh: Anatomy,
bullae
Bullae
Erythema Multiforme, and palpable
crepitus
Crepitus
Osteoarthritis:
The patient, in
shock
Shock
Shock is a life-threatening condition associated with impaired circulation that results in tissue hypoxia. The different types of shock are based on the underlying cause: distributive (↑ cardiac output (CO), ↓ systemic vascular resistance (SVR)), cardiogenic (↓ CO, ↑ SVR), hypovolemic (↓ CO, ↑ SVR), obstructive (↓ CO), and mixed.
Types of Shock at the time this photograph was taken, underwent a hemipelvectomy and died less than 8 hours later.
Systemic symptoms:
A photomicrograph showing gram-positive Gram-Positive Penicillins bacilli Bacilli Shigella representing C. perfringens
Image: “Clostridium perfringens” by CDC/Don Stalons. License: Public DomainIdentification Identification Defense Mechanisms of gram-positive Gram-Positive Penicillins, rod-shaped, anaerobic, spore Spore The reproductive elements of lower organisms, such as bacteria; fungi; and cryptogamic plants. Microsporidia/Microsporidiosis-forming bacteria Bacteria Bacteria are prokaryotic single-celled microorganisms that are metabolically active and divide by binary fission. Some of these organisms play a significant role in the pathogenesis of diseases. Bacteriology (C. perfringens) in the infected muscle tissue (gas gangrene Gangrene Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply. Small Bowel Obstruction)
Image: “Clostridium perfringens” by Engelbert Schröpfer, Stephan Rauthe and Thomas Meyer. License: CC BY 2.0X-ray X-ray Penetrating electromagnetic radiation emitted when the inner orbital electrons of an atom are excited and release radiant energy. X-ray wavelengths range from 1 pm to 10 nm. Hard x-rays are the higher energy, shorter wavelength x-rays. Soft x-rays or grenz rays are less energetic and longer in wavelength. The short wavelength end of the x-ray spectrum overlaps the gamma rays wavelength range. The distinction between gamma rays and x-rays is based on their radiation source. Pulmonary Function Tests reveals soft-tissue gas consistent with gas gangrene Gangrene Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply. Small Bowel Obstruction.
Image: “Figure 3” by Cooney and Cooney. License: CC BY 2.0