Abstract
Gas gangrene is now a rare disease, but we recently encountered 3 cases of gas gangrene in the lower extremities. Of the three cases two associated with diabetes mellitus, and the remaining one, with ASO. Each patient's life was able to be saved by amputation of the diseased leg.
Case 1: A 59-year-old male under the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The patient visited our hospital because of a high fever for 3 days, and the left leg marked pus discharge in with a foul odor. X-rays of the leg revealed gas accumulation, and open drainage was performed. No improvement was attained and the leg was amputated.
Case 2: A 66-year-old male with ASO. The patient received a burn on the right knee but left it untreated. Later, the right knee showed marked pus discharge, and he visited our hospital. X-rays showed gas accumulation. Open drainage failed to lead to remission. The leg was amputated.
Case 3: A 51-year-old female under the treatment of diadetes mellitus. She visited our hospital because of marked pus discharge and a foul odor in the left leg. X-rays of the left leg revealed gas accumulation. Open drainage only failed. The leg was amputated.
The postoperative course was good in all 3 cases. It is thought that their lives could be saved by amputation of the legs developing gas gangrene, which is a serious infection.
