An orthopaedic surgeon in New Zealand has apologised to a patient after accidentally setting the man’s leg on fire during knee joint replacement surgery.

The man’s leg became aflame after the surgeon doused the wound with alcohol-based Betadine, then applied diathermy without waiting for the disinfectant solution to dry first.

As a result, the man’s leg caught fire and he received burns that eventually required debridement and grafts, according to a report by the Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill.

“I did not appreciate the fire hazard with this routine, and neither did anyone else, until we did have a fire following a spark from the diathermy, and [the patient’s] leg was burnt … I can only repeat that I am very sorry that he experienced such a serious complication,” the unnamed surgeon said.