Management of degloving injuries of the lower extremity: a case report of a forklift injury.

UNLABELLED

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.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV, Case Study.