title: Limb salvage after gas gangrene: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Gas gangrene is a necrotic infection of soft tissue associated with high mortality, often necessitating amputation in order to control the infection. Herein we present a case of gas gangrene of the arm in an intravenous drug user with a history of intramuscular injections with normal saline in the shoulder used to provoke pain for recovery after drug induced coma. The patient was early treated with surgery and antibiotics rendering possible the preservation of the limb and some of its function. Additionally, a review of the literature regarding case reports of limb salvage after gas gangrene is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes, Heraklion, 71100, Greece.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aggelidakis
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes, Heraklion, 71100, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lasithiotakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes, Heraklion, 71100, Greece.|Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation, Voutes, Heraklion, 71100, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Topalidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes, Heraklion, 71100, Greece.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koutroumpas
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes, Heraklion, 71100, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kouvidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Voutes, Heraklion, 71100, Greece.
authors.forename: Paulos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katonis