Complex Traumatic Facial Degloving Injury

Area of Science:

• Trauma surgery
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery
• Emergency medicine

Background:

• Degloving injuries, characterized by the detachment of skin and subcutaneous tissue, typically result from high-energy trauma and most commonly affect extremities or the scalp.
• Facial degloving injuries are exceptionally rare and associated with a high risk of mortality due to potential vascular and neurological compromise.

Observation:

• This case report presents a patient who sustained a severe traumatic facial degloving injury.
• The patient survived this extremely rare and life-threatening condition, highlighting the critical importance of prompt medical intervention.

Findings:

• The management strategy focused on immediate emergency care, including surgical debridement to prevent tissue necrosis and infection.
• Timely surgical repair of vital soft tissue structures was crucial for successful patient outcomes and reconstruction.

Implications:

• This case underscores the necessity of a systematic approach to managing severe facial degloving injuries.
• Effective emergency management and surgical reconstruction can significantly improve survival rates and functional recovery in patients with such devastating trauma.