Management of degloving injuries of the lower extremity: a case report of a forklift injury.
Soft-tissue injuries of the foot and ankle can vary from crushing to penetrating mechanisms. Degloving injuries of the lower extremity are the result of an entrapment between a fixed surface and a moving object. These injuries pose significant morbidity and potential complications (eg, infection) to the patient if prompt wound coverage is not initiated. The authors present a case of an extensive degloving injury to the foot, ankle, and lower leg from a forklift accident. With the collaborative effort of the podiatry and plastic surgery teams, the patient underwent serial debridements, application of a small-intestine submucosa wound matrix, negative-pressure wound therapy, and skin grafting. This case presentation demonstrates the benefit of procedure staging and early wound coverage for improved patient outcomes.


METHODS
Therapeutic Level IV, Case Study.
Jewish Hospital & St Mary's Healthcare Podiatric Residency Program, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. lbzagrocki@yahoo.com
Laura
L
Zagrocki
Adrienne
A
Ross
Adam
A
Hicks
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014945:Wound Healing