Four cases of gas gangrene with trunk involvment experienced at the Tottori University Hospital over past 15 years are reviewed in this report.
All cases were transferred from other hospitals and developed gas gangrene to the trunk on admission to our hospital.
Gas gangrene developed after severe injury to the lower extremity in cases 1 and 2, case 3 after open pelvic fracture, and case 4 caused by rectofistula.
Patients were treated with surgical management, antibiotics and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Cases. 1, 2 and 3 also received extensive debridement and amputation or dislocation. Subsequently all three of these cases survied. However case 4, in which open drainage and colostomy were performed died after 5 weeks.
Extensive surgical management such as amputation or disarticulation should be performed in cases with wide gangrenous involvement to ensure their survival.
