Neonatal lower limb gangrene: Avoidable causes noticed in North-West Nigeria

Abstract

A gangrenous limb is a dead limb resulting from compromise of the vascular supply to the limb. The gangrenous limb is a source of infection which can lead to septicaemia with eventual mortality of the patient, hence it is an orthopaedic emergency. Limb gangrene is common in orthopaedic practice but rare in neonatal age group. These are two cases of neonate lower limb gangrene, one was following application of tight polythene bag on the leg to protect the local tattoo (LELE ) applied on the foot of a two week old neonate for cosmesis and the second patient was a complication of traditional bone setter (TBS) intervention in a 10 day old neonate. The first patient was offered a knee disarticulation but the parents declined, took her away from the hospital but she was brought back dead to the same hospital two days later. The second patient had left knee disarticulation, sepsis treated and he was discharge home healthy about three weeks later. There is a need to provide an alternative for protection of applied “LELE” especially in the neonatal age group. Awareness need to be increased on the problems caused by traditional bone setters so that their patronage can reduce.