FOOT GANGRENE

TYPES

Some types of gangrene include:

• Dry – This type develops slowly and causes the skin to shrivel and dry. It often occurs in people with blood vessel diseases or diabetes.
• Wet – This type occurs from a bacterial infection and inflammation that damages the tissues. Wetness, blistering, and swelling develop. It may also spread rapidly, thus requiring medical attention immediately.
• Gas – This type is caused by the bacteria Clostridium perfringens which instantly grows, produces toxins, and releases gas into the tissue. This can be lethal if left untreated.

SYMPTOMS

Gangrene symptoms may vary depending on the cause. Here are the common symptoms of foot gangrene:

• Numbness in the affected area
• Cold, pale skin
• Red and inflamed skin
• Pain in the affected parts

Signs and symptoms of gangrene caused by bacterial infection:

• Rapid breathing and heartbeat
• Chills
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Severe pain in the affected area
• Dizziness
• Sores and blisters that bleed and oozes pus
• Change in skin color as the tissues die
• Crackling sound when pressing on the skin

DIAGNOSIS

Your doctor diagnoses gangrene by examining your skin, taking your medical history, and requesting various tests.

TREATMENT

Dead tissue removal

Dead tissue may be extracted by conventional surgery or by a form of biosurgery called larval debridement therapy. If gangrene is serious, amputation of the damaged finger, toe, or limb is often the only alternative, and the removal of dead tissue to prevent its spread may be impossible.

Blood flow restoration

In some cases, doctors surgically mend blood vessels. The restored vessels allow blood flow to reach the gangrene-affected areas so that the tissue can regenerate. Moreover, this can prevent reoccurrence.

Treating the infection

Doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat and prevent gangrene caused by a bacterial infection.

Other treatments

Other therapies can also be used, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT. You are sealed within a high-pressure oxygen chamber during HBOT, where high levels of oxygen circulate to help repair dying tissue. The high concentration of oxygen can also help reduce bacterial growth.