Gangrene

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Types

Gangrene caused by a serious bacterial infection is called wet gangrene.

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Gangrene caused by lack of circulation in an injured or diseased area is called dry gangrene.

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One specific example of gangrene is so called diabetic foot that can be seen in long-standing complicated diabetes. It is caused by a combination of arterial ischemia, injury and poor healing that is rather common in diabetics. It often combines poor healing with a superimposed infection. The picture here is of a foot with a recent amputation of a great toe and yet increasing loss of circulation (the bluish area) with subsequent tissue loss to come.

Related Topics:
Diabetic foot - Diabetes

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The most common surgical treatment for irreversible gangrene is immediate amputation, as the infection grows 2 to 3 cm/per hour.

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