Wound on the finger ended with amputated legs

The man sought medical care with fever, body pain, and a small wound on a finger. The next day, he was forced to amputate both lower legs and the finger. Now, questions are being raised about the process.

At the beginning of the year, the man in his 50s sought care at a health center with mild symptoms. He had also had a small wound on a finger for a couple of days. The wound was not judged to be infected, and a culture showed that the inflammation marker was very low.

The man was scheduled for a follow-up appointment the next day, where a new test was performed. This time, several vital parameters were affected, and the inflammation marker was significantly elevated, and the man was sent to the hospital.

At the hospital, he developed toxic shock syndrome, believed to be due to the wound where yellow staphylococci were found, and acute kidney failure. The latter could be successfully treated with dialysis, but at the same time, it was assessed that amputation of both lower legs and a finger was required.

Ivo report

The case has now been reported to the Health and Social Care Inspectorate, Ivo, and the man has stated that during the first visit, he felt too ill to question the doctor’s assessment. However, in hindsight, he and a relative have wondered if he should have been sent to the hospital immediately after the first visit to the health center.

According to Läkartidningen, the same question has also been discussed among healthcare professionals.

“Red triaged patients may be considered for transfer to the hospital even without first consulting a hospital consultant,” the report to Ivo states.