Surgeon accidentally sets patient’s leg on fire

Alcohol-based solution and diathermy a dangerous mix for New Zealand knee surgery patient
Surgeon

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.