A degloving injury is a severe form of physical trauma in which the skin and soft tissue beneath are forcefully separated from the further underlying muscles, tendons, and bones. These injuries are capable of causing serious tissue damage, permanent disfigurement, and long-term disabilities that can affect a person’s ability to return to work or enjoy life.
With that in mind, degloving injuries must be handled quickly and carefully. Yet, even with the best care, they can impact the patient’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being long after the accident that caused them.
Types Of Degloving Injuries
Degloving injuries are classified into two primary types: open and closed.
An open degloving occurs when the skin and underlying tissue are physically torn away from the body, exposing everything underneath. These injuries often involve:
- Extensive loss of soft tissue and skin
- Large open wounds that need surgical repair
- Exposure of muscles, bones, and other internal body structures
- Immediate risk of infection in open wounds
- Heavy blood loss, which can lead to shock
In contrast, closed degloving injuries do not involve open wounds. Instead, the skin separates from the underlying structures internally, creating a pocket in which blood, fat, and other bodily fluids can accumulate. These injuries can be tough to detect because the skin looks intact on the surface despite the heavy internal damage.
Nevertheless, characteristics of a closed degloving include the following:
- Swelling and bruising in the affected area
- Redness or skin discoloration
- Pain and tenderness at the injury site
- Complications such as chronic pain
- Infection and abscess formation (trapped fluids create the ideal environment for bacterial growth)
- Fever or chills (a sign of systemic infection)
- Pus or fluid drainage if the skin does eventually tear or break down
- Delayed symptoms that can make a diagnosis challenging
Both types of injuries need immediate care; if they’re not treated promptly, the patient could face long-lasting problems.
Common Causes Of Degloving Injuries
Any type of accident that involves a high-impact or high-force situation can cause the skin to be forcibly separated from its underlying body structures. Still, degloving injuries are most often seen in the following circumstances:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motorcycle, truck, and car accidents often lead to degloving injuries, especially when a body part is dragged along the pavement or crushed between vehicles. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bike riders are especially vulnerable since they lack the protective shell of a car or truck.
Workplace And Industrial Accidents
Jobs that involve heavy machinery, factory equipment, and farming tools pose a high risk of degloving injuries. Workers can end up hurt if their limbs get trapped in moving machinery or conveyor belts.
Bites
Severe animal bites can cause degloving by tearing the skin and tissue away from the bones and muscles underneath. Even human bites can cause degloving in places where the skin is thinner, such as the face or hands.
Sports And Recreation
High-impact sports, such as hockey and football, as well as extreme sports, like motocross and rock climbing, can sometimes cause injuries in which the skin tears away.
Medical Treatment For Degloving Injuries
Degloving injuries require immediate medical care. The injury site must be stabilized to avoid further complications. Emergency responders will focus on controlling bleeding, cleaning and dressing the wound to prevent infection, and offering the victim pain relief and antibiotics.
Afterward, the patient will likely immediately go into surgery. Severe degloving injuries will necessitate surgical intervention to fix damaged tissues, restore function to the area, and improve the person’s overall appearance.
Common degloving-related surgeries include the following:
- Skin Grafts: Transplant healthy skin from another part of the body to the exposed area
- Flap Surgery: Moves healthy tissue from an adjacent area to restore coverage and blood supply
- Tissue Expansion: Encourages new skin growth
- Amputation: Performed in extreme cases where the injury is too severe to save the body part
Recovery from a degloving injury can be a long and painful process. Patients may need physical therapy, ongoing wound care, occupational therapy, and psychological support.
Legal Options For Victims In Lafayette
In the event that you suffer a degloving injury caused by someone else’s negligence in Lafayette, LA, you might have legal options. A personal injury claim can help you recover payment for the following:
- Medical bills
- Lost time from work
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
If the accident happened on the job, a workers’ compensation claim can cover treatments and a portion of your lost wages.
Take Action Now To Protect Your Future
If you or a loved one have suffered a degloving injury in Lafayette, Louisiana, you deserve strong legal counsel to help you in your fight for justice. Kenny Habetz Injury Law is committed to helping you go after the compensation you need to recover and move on with your life.
Contact our office today at 337-399-9000 to schedule a free consultation. We’ll go over your options with you and handle the legal stress so you don’t have to.
