Man uses pliers to amputate gangrene-infected toes
- 8 years ago
DEVON, ENGLAND — Paul Dibbins, from Devon in England, was desperate to save his leg from the clutches of a deadly infection, so desperate that he decided to take matters into his own hands.
The Torquay Herald Express reports that the diabetic former soldier’s toe troubles started in March 2015, when he got frostbite after fixing a car in freezing weather.
His right leg was set to be amputated from the knee down due to complications with his diabetes. But doctors had to tend to another emergency and the surgery was cancelled at the last minute.
Dibbins claims the hospital never called him to reschedule the procedure, so he spent the next nine months treating his own wounds. His efforts paid off, as the foot started healing.
Unfortunately, his toes became infected with gas gangrene, which can be deadly.
Doctors told him the toes had to be removed, but that he had to wait six weeks for an operation.
The former army lance corporal decided to do the amputation himself, and used pliers to cut off bone and tendon to rid himself of the gangrenous appendages. He didn’t take any painkillers, and only bit down onto a towel for the pain.
A surgeon who saw what he did on his foot called him crazy, but praised the work and called it “textbook.”
The Torquay Herald Express reports that the diabetic former soldier’s toe troubles started in March 2015, when he got frostbite after fixing a car in freezing weather.
His right leg was set to be amputated from the knee down due to complications with his diabetes. But doctors had to tend to another emergency and the surgery was cancelled at the last minute.
Dibbins claims the hospital never called him to reschedule the procedure, so he spent the next nine months treating his own wounds. His efforts paid off, as the foot started healing.
Unfortunately, his toes became infected with gas gangrene, which can be deadly.
Doctors told him the toes had to be removed, but that he had to wait six weeks for an operation.
The former army lance corporal decided to do the amputation himself, and used pliers to cut off bone and tendon to rid himself of the gangrenous appendages. He didn’t take any painkillers, and only bit down onto a towel for the pain.
A surgeon who saw what he did on his foot called him crazy, but praised the work and called it “textbook.”