Closed Internal Degloving of the Flank

Originally described in 1853 by Dr. Morel-Lavellee, closed internal degloving injuries represent an important, althoughuncommon, source of morbidity in trauma patients. These injuries are typically the result of a shearing or crushing force thattraumatically separates the skin and subcutaneous tissue from the underlying fat. This results in disruption of perforatingblood vessels and lymphatics, leading to hematoma/seroma formation. We describe two cases in which industrial crushinjuries resulted in lumbar transverse process fracture. Both patients developed closed degloving injuries of the flank. Tothe author’s knowledge, this is the first case series describing the occurrence of closed internal degloving injuries of theflank with transverse process fractures. We advise that a high level of suspicion for these lesions to occur with transversespinal fractures should be maintained, as they may arise several years after initial injury.

کلیدواژه ها:

hematoma ، lumbosacral region ، spinal fractures ، subcutaneous tissue ، wounds and injuries