title: Use of tissue adhesive as a field expedient barrier dressing for hand wounds in disaster responders.
abstract: Injuries sustained by disaster responders can impede the affected individuals' ability to perform critical functions and often require the redirection of already scarce resources. Soft-tissue injuries to the hand are commonly experienced by disaster workers and even seemingly mild lacerations can pose the potential for significant complications in such hazard-filled environments. In this report, the authors describe their experience utilizing tissue adhesive to create a functional and effective barrier dressing for a hand injury sustained by a responder at the West, Texas USA fertilizer plant explosion. This technique of wound management allowed the patient to continue performing essential onsite functions for a sustained period following the explosion and the subsequent investigative processes. At the 30-day follow-up, the wound was well healed and without complications. This technique proved to be a valuable method of field expedient wound management and is worthy of consideration in similar future circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland USA.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D001458:Bandages; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D014014:Tissue Adhesives