A 39-year-old resident of Lviv region had to undergo a leg amputation due to a knee injury sustained from a trailer collision.

Doctors at the St. Luke's Hospital in Lviv saved the life of 39-year-old resident of Lviv region, a father of many children, Petro Baidala, who developed an aggressive infection at the site of a knee injury. The man was unable to breathe, sepsis set in, and his kidneys began to fail. To save his life, it was necessary to amputate his leg along with the hip joint.

At the beginning of September, the man, who lives in the village of Dunayiv in Lviv region, brought firewood for the winter. While unloading, he hit his knee on a metal trailer. A bruise formed at the site of the injury, which the man did not pay much attention to. However, after about four days, his leg became swollen and turned black within a couple of hours. Following an examination at the district hospital, he was referred to Lviv, to St. Luke's Hospital, the medical facility reported.

During the examination, specialists diagnosed the patient with anaerobic phlegmon of the left limb. This is a purulent inflammation of the soft tissues characterized by necrosis, or tissue death. The infection progressed very rapidly, leading to the development of sepsis and kidney failure.

“The surgeons had to amputate the affected leg at the highest level, along with the hip joint. This was necessary to stop the spread of the infection and give the patient a chance to fight for his life. The critically ill patient was on a ventilator for two weeks. He received 10 liters of blood and its components,” the hospital stated.

The man also underwent hemodialysis. He spent three weeks in the intensive care unit.

According to surgeon Ihor Radkovskyi, this illness is currently rare but progresses rapidly. If treatment is not started in time, there are very few chances for a positive outcome. This patient was in critical condition, but thanks to the teamwork of anesthesiologists and surgeons, he was saved.

Now Petro's life is no longer in danger. He is regaining strength, planning to get a prosthesis, and wants to leave the hospital as soon as possible to return home, where his wife and six children are waiting for him.