Degloving is a serious injury that occurs when layers of skin or tissue are ripped off of the body. These life-threatening injuries can severely damage underlying tissue and lead to the loss of a massive amount of blood. Here’s what you should know about the symptoms, causes, and treatment of degloving injuries:
Symptoms of Degloving Injuries
Most of these injuries are classified as open injuries, which means the underlying tissues, muscles, and bones are exposed in areas where the skin has been ripped away. The skin may still be partially attached to the body or completely ripped off.
It’s harder to spot a closed degloving injury, which occurs when the top layer of skin detaches from some of the deeper layers of tissue. Some of the symptoms of closed injuries include bruising, pain, and swelling in the affected area.
Causes of Degloving Injuries
Degloving occurs when the outer layer of the skin is forcefully pulled but the underlying tissue is not. Eventually, the skin will stretch so far that it will detach from the lower layers of tissue and lead to a degloving injury. This often occurs as a result of:
- Motorcycle accidents
- Car accidents
- Construction accidents
- Sports injuries
- Dog bites
These injuries can occur on any part of the body, but they are most commonly found on the legs, abdomen, and arms.
Treatment of Degloving Injuries
Treatment will vary depending on the severity of the injury. Sometimes, it is possible to reattach skin that is not completely detached from the body. Doctors can also perform skin grafting, which involves transferring skin from another part of the body to the affected area.
Treatment options are limited for severe degloving injuries. Amputation may be required to treat severe injuries on the arms, legs, hands, and feet.
Treating a closed degloving injury is not as difficult as treating an open injury. Minor closed injuries are often treated with compression bandages and rest, but if the injury is severe, your doctor may need to drain fluid and remove tissue from the affected area.
A degloving injury can lead to serious complications, including life-threatening infections. For this reason, your doctor will need to closely monitor you while you recover to ensure your wounds are healing properly.
If you have sustained a degloving injury, seek legal representation from attorney Martin Gasparian right away. Let Mr. Gasparian handle every aspect of your personal injury claim so you can focus solely on making a full recovery from your injuries. Schedule a free consultation regarding your case by calling 559-203-3333 or submitting your information at MaisonLaw.com.
