Catastrophic upper limb injury. Case report

Abstract

Catastrophic injury is a devastating damage, affecting many structures, leading to disability or amputation. With the objective of describing the clinical picture, treatment and evolution of a catastrophic injury to the right upper limb, it is presented the case of a 23-year-old male patient, who suffers trauma to the limb, when introduced into a cane grinding machine, wound contusion, bleeding, edema and avulsion of tissues, from the brachial region to the wrist, with exposure of muscle groups. Bleeding is controlled by repositioning the skin. From the second day onwards he presented fever, ischemia and infection; a necrectomy was carried out. Expanded dermal skin is grafted. Four months later he returned to life. Catastrophic injury represents a challenge in medical care, due to the need for an interdisciplinary approach. The preservation of the damaged limb is part of effective hemostasis and infection control.

Keywords

• heridas, lesiones, extremidad superior, injerto de piel, procedimientos quirúrgicos reconstructivos