Role of smear examination of wound secretion in early diagnosis and treatment of gaseous gangrene after trauma / 中华急诊医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the role of smear examination of wound secretion in early diagnosis and treatment of gaseous gangrene after trauma.Methods The data of 10 881 patients,who were carried to our hospital more than one hour after injuries from April 2003 to April 2006,were collected.Smear examination of wound secretion had been performed in these patients.Results Among the 10 881 wounded patients,11 patients developed gaseous gangrene,taking up 0.10%.Among the 11 gaseous gangrene patients,5 were caused by vehicle crash,3 by machine,2 by stone,1 by gun-shot injury.As for the wounded locations,7(63.6%)patients were in lower extremity,and 3(27.3%)patients in upper extremity,and 1 patient in mandible with head and neck wounds.The onset time of gaseous gangrene was(3.3?2.2)d.The 11 patients were completely cured.Seven patients with open comminuted fracture and lost limb function were performed with wound limb amputation,3 patients with injuries without fractures and 1 patient with mandible combined head and neck wounds were immediately treated with surgical debridement,cephalosporins,and hyperbaric oxygen(HBO). Conclusion Gas gangrene was extremely rare in injury patients but it was life-threatening,so doctors should pay more attention.Cleaning-up the wounds and debridement were critical for prevention of infection,and HBO might serve as an useful assistant method.Smear examination of wound secretion was helpful in early diagnosis and treatment of gaseous gangrene after trauma.