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Nerve Damage in a Degloving Injury

Home » Nerve Damage in a Degloving Injury
April 18, 2018
Edward Smith

Challenges of Nerve Damage From a Degloving Injury

One of the often overlooked issues when riding a motorcycle is the possibility of nerve damage from a degloving injury. A degloving injury occurs when an extensive amount of skin is torn from the body. This is termed an avulsion injury. While most motorcycle riders are aware of the dangers of bone fractures, road rash, and head injuries, they should also understand the severe complications of avulsion injuries.

Degloving injuries can lead to many complications, both acutely and down the road. Among the various difficulties is damage to the blood supply of that region of the body along with the loss of soft tissue. Furthermore, one of the most common complications is nerve damage. Nerve damage has the potential to severely damage someone’s quality of life.

How Does Nerve Damage Occur from Degloving Injuries?

When someone sustains a degloving injury in a car or motorcycle accident, the skin from the surface of the tissue is removed. Some of the common locations of degloving injuries are the arms and legs. The skin is attached to the soft tissue underneath. When a degloving injury happens, some of the tissue could be connected to the skin. Therefore, this tissue could be lost when the skin is torn off. With this tissue are essential blood vessels (arteries and veins) along with nerves.
These nerves are vital because they power motor and sensory function throughout the body. When nerves are torn off, nerve damage can occur. In a degloving injury, nerve damage can sometimes be overlooked. The medical team is busy trying to ensure that individuals do not bleed death, that infection does not occur, and that the individual is stabilized for a tissue graft. On the other hand, nerve damage can be severe and have a negative impact on someone’s quality of life.

Treatment of Degloving Injuries

During the treatment of a degloving injury, there are several important principles to keep in mind. These include:
  • Save as many of the internal structures as can be preserved
  • Cover the surface of the skin as early as possible
  • Ensure that this skin cover is thick enough to prevent infection
  • Make sure future surgeons have room to perform secondary procedures
  • Restore function as quickly as possible

How is Nerve Damage from Degloving Injuries Treated?

This last principle is dependent on having high-quality nerve function. The treatment of nerve damage involves trying to reconstruct the nerves if possible. A skilled surgeon will try to dissect the tissue and repair damage to nerves and vessels as he or she goes. After this, rehabilitation will be performed to restore as much function as possible. During this time, it will be possible to assess how well the nerves are functioning. Unfortunately, many cases of nerve damage are unable to be reversed. In this case, rehab will be performed in order to preserve whatever function remains.

Help from a California Personal Injury Lawyer

If someone requires multiple surgical procedures following a severe accident, their hospital bill could be quite high. Furthermore, rehabilitation appointments and follow-up revision procedures will only add to the stress that a family is feeling. Here are some of the concerns families may have:
  • How will I afford my medical care?
  • Will my health insurance company cover the costs related to my surgery?
  • What about the cost of my physical and occupational therapy appointments?
  • How did this accident even happen in the first place? Could it have been avoided?
  • Will I lose my job as a result of my injury?
Having all these questions following a serious injury is natural. For this reason, a consultation with a caring injury attorney from our law firm can be helpful. Do not be afraid to ask for help during tough times. Learn about us by watching this video.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Individuals and families who have sustained nerve damage in a degloving injury can call us at (916) 921-6400. Our legal team would be happy to provide friendly, free advice. Those with questions and concerns can also contact us on my toll-free line: (800) 404-5400.

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