坏疽使机体局部组织坏死，炎症可以累及到趾皮下软组织（脂肪、结缔组织）（图中右侧）和骨（图中左侧）。因多种组织失去活性。因此手术切除坏死组织是必要的。
Gangrenous necrosis involves the tissues of a body part. The inflammation seen here is extending beneath the skin of a toe to involve soft tissue (fat and connective tissue at the right) and bone (at the left). Because multiple tissues are non-viable, amputation of such areas is necessary.