Degloving Injuries: Types and Causes

Overview

• Degloving injuries: Traumatic injuries where the top layers of skin and tissue are torn away from underlying muscle, connective tissue, or bone.
• Commonly affect the legs and often associated with fractures.
• Life-threatening due to severe blood loss and tissue death.

Causes of Degloving Injuries

• Accidents involving industrial or farm equipment.
• Motorcycle and car accidents.
• Sports mishaps.
• Animal bites.
• Falls from heights.
• Construction accidents.

Types of Degloving Injuries

• Open Degloving Injury:
  • Skin and tissue ripped away, exposing muscles and bones.
  • Skin may be partially attached, hanging as a flap.
• Closed Degloving Injury:
  • Top layer of skin intact but separated from underlying tissue.
  • Common around the hip bone, torso, buttocks, lower spine, shoulder blades, and knees.

Diagnosis of Degloving Injuries

• Difficult to assess visually; skin viability determination is subjective.
• Open injuries easier to diagnose due to exposed muscle and bone.
• Closed injuries may be identified by bruising, pain, and swelling.

Treatments for Degloving Injuries

• Open Degloving Injuries:
  • Skin reattachment.
  • Reattachment of fingers or toes.
  • Skin grafts.
  • Amputation.
• Closed Degloving Injuries:
  • Less serious: Compression bandages and physical therapy.
  • Serious: Fluid drainage, dead tissue removal, and blood vessel injections.

Facilities and Resources

• Tampa General Hospital (TGH) is a Level I Trauma Center.
• Offers treatment for a wide range of conditions for both adults and children.
• First hospital in Florida with national Level I Trauma Center verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS).