What are Degloving Injuries?

Degloving injuries occur when an extensive section of skin is completely torn off the underlying tissue, severing its blood supply. These injuries are characterized by the following features:

1. Extent of Skin Loss: Degloving injuries typically involve a large portion of the skin, resulting in significant tissue loss.
2. Mechanism: They often result from crushing or avulsion of soft tissue, leading to exposure of bone and severe contamination.
3. Vascular Compromise: Due to the disruption of blood supply, successful wound management options are limited.

Indications for Treatment

• Trauma Cases: Animals hit by cars or caught underneath the hood often suffer degloving injuries.
• Severity Assessment: Each case must be assessed individually. If there is too little skin to close the wound or the risk of infection is high, the wound may not be closed.

Wound Management Procedure

1. Initial Wound Management:
   • First Aid: Basic bandaging and pressure to stop bleeding are done quickly.
   • Irrigation (Lavage): Washing away visible and microscopic debris reduces infection risk.
   • Debridement (Cleaning): Removing dead tissue and foreign material helps prevent infection.
   • Culture: If the wound is infected, a sample may be collected for culture.
   • Antibiotics and Pain Relief: Treatment for bacterial infections and pain management.
2. Managing Open Wounds:
   • Repeated Bandaging and Debridement: Wounds left open are managed with wet-to-dry dressings, which clean the wound during bandage changes.
   • Transition to Dry Dressings: After healing progresses, nonstick dressings are used.
   • Closure Decision: The veterinarian decides whether to close the wound based on tissue viability and infection risk.
3. Closure Techniques:
   • Sutures, Staples, or Surgical Glue: Used to close wounds.
   • Layered Closure: Deep sutures may hold torn muscles together, with an outer layer of sutures to close the skin.

Post-Procedure Considerations

• Monitoring: Regular follow-up to assess healing progress and address any complications.
• Pain Management: Ensuring the animal’s comfort during recovery.
• Infection Control: Monitoring for signs of infection and adjusting treatment as needed.

Benefits of Proper Management

• Faster Healing: Effective wound care promotes quicker recovery.
• Reduced Complications: Proper management minimizes infection risk.
• Improved Quality of Life: Adequate pain relief and wound care enhance the animal’s well-being.

Remember that each case is unique, and prompt veterinary intervention is crucial to optimize outcomes for animals with degloving injuries.