Gangrene - tissue necrosis, which occurs due to insufficient intake of oxygen. As a rule, the disease affects the most distant from the heart tissue. Gangrene of the lower limbs arises for a number of reasons. The most common are:
- frostbite;
- burn;
- damage to the blood vessels;
- diabetes;
- exposure to certain chemicals (alkali, phosphorus, etc.);
- trauma and subsequent exposure to an open wound infection.
Varieties of gangrene
Distinguish dry, wet and gas types of gangrene. With dry form, oxygen very quickly ceases to flow into the lower limb. The tissues of the feet dry out gradually, they lose volume, and the limb seems to be mummified. Wet gangrene is the result of getting into an affected leg infection. At the same time, the tissues swell, become dirty green and decay. The most dangerous gangrene of the lower extremities in diabetes mellitus due to a decrease in the body's defenses. Gas gangrene occurs due to infection of the crushed tissues. Anaerobic microbes that can develop in the absence of oxygen quickly spread through the body, causing severe intoxication and decomposition of tissues.
Treatment of gangrene of lower extremities
The treatment of the disease is determined on an individual basis. The main task of the specialist is to identify the cause of the development of pathology and maximum preservation of healthy tissues. With gangrene of the lower limbs, conservative methods of treatment are used in the initial stage. Therapy includes:
- The use of medicines in the form of tablets, injections and ointments. Antibiotics prescribed for gangrene of the lower extremities reduce inflammation and block the spread of infection to healthy areas.
- Reception of immunomodulating drugs, multivitamin complexes for strengthening the body's defenses.
- Carrying out physiotherapy procedures aimed at eliminating dead cells, stimulating tissue regeneration, preventing the spread of necrotic phenomena.
- Medical-physical complexes, appointed during rehabilitation.
You should also adjust the diet, give up alcohol and smoking, review the regime of the day, providing for a change in activities and recreation.
When gangrene spreads over large areas, surgical intervention is required. The surgical operation is aimed at the elimination of dead tissue, the restoration of blood supply and the provision of adequate nutrition of cells. If the thrombus became the cause of death, thrombendarterectomy is performed - removal of atherosclerotic plaque from the artery.
Attention! Treating gangrene is a complicated process. The limb can not be preserved in all cases. In the presence of predisposing factors, for example, with diabetic gangrene of the lower limbs or with mechanical trauma, narrow specialists can be connected to the definition of methods of treatment and the establishment of a possible prognosis for the development of the disease.
Treatment of gangrene of lower extremities by folk remedies
In combination with medical therapy for gangrene of the lower limbs, folk remedies can be used. Among the effective
- rubbing ointment from rosin, laundry soap and honey, taken in equal parts;
- compresses with white lily oil;
- hirudotherapy - treatment of a sick leg with the help of leeches.
Important! You should not try to cure a dangerous disease on your own. Folk remedies can not cope with the beginning of withering away of tissues, therefore at the first signs of gangrene it is necessary to apply to a specialist.