Degloving / Hand & Finger Injuries

Have you suffered a serious finger injury? Our Dallas lawyers may be able to help. Call us today at (214) 651-6100.

Serious injuries to the fingers or hand can be painful, expensive to treat, and can result in permanent damage which may limit your ability to earn a living. If you feel as though your injury was the result of negligence on behalf of another person, product, or an employer, we urge you to call our Dallas law firm today for a free consultation.

The term "degloving" refers to an injury in which the skin is completely separated from the underlying tissue, severing the blood supply to the skin and leaving the muscle (and sometimes bone) exposed. This definition in no way describes the excruciating pain and severity of such injuries, which often result in disfiguring scars and a permanent loss or reduction of function.

An injury to the finger or hand often results in serious avulsion of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, and can easily damage nerve endings, tendons, and intrinsic muscles. This can lead to permanent nerve damage, limited use of the hand, and in some cases, even amputation.

There may also be fractures due to the trauma, injury to the blood vessels, and other types of life-threatening complications that can result in expensive medical treatment, and may even prevent a plastic surgeon from providing reconstructive treatment until the underlying conditions have been addressed and corrected.

When it comes to degloving injuries, there are four general classifications, depending on severity: abrasion/avulsion, non-circumferential, circumferential single plane, and circumferential multi-plane.

Medical treatment for a finger or hand injury.

An injury to the hand and/or fingers often requires orthopedic and reconstructive surgery, and some types of injuries (e.g., degloving) may later necessitate cosmetic surgery in order to improve appearance and function. Your surgeon will make an evaluation to determine whether revascularization is necessary, as it's sometimes possible to vasculyse degloved skin using vein grafts in order to restore blood flow to the injured area.

Sadly, sometimes amputation may be necessary. If a necrotizing fasciitis infection sets in, antibiotics are often useless. In cases like this, amputation may be the only option in order to save the patient's life.

Because these types of injuries often lead to the patient's lack of dexterity and difficulty in the performance of everyday tasks, physical and occupational therapy following medical treatment is essential. This type of ongoing treatment helps provide the best opportunity for the victim to regain functionality and learn to adapt to any permanent disability.

Primary causes of finger degloving injuries.

The majority of the time, degloving injuries tend to occur in motor vehicle crashes, workplace accidents, and as the result of a ring becoming caught on something during a fall.

While not all degloving accidents occur due to obvious negligence on behalf of another person, you still may have options to recover compensation to pay for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other related damages. If your injury prevents you from earning a living, you may even be able to recover compensation equal to the income you would have made until retirement had you not been injured.

Employers are often held liable for on-the-job injuries, manufacturers can be held liable for producing defective or unsafe products/equipment, and your homeowners insurance may compensate you for injuries sustained in or around the home.

Because issues of liability can be quite complex in personal injury cases, it's strongly advised that you at least speak with a personal injury attorney over the phone to understand the options available to you and your family. If we feel as though you have a strong case, we'll tell you as much and explain what lies ahead. If we need more information, we'll work with you to get it.

We do not charge you anything for this, and in fact, our firm only works on contingency. If you hire us to pursue a personal injury claim, we only collect a fee if and when we put money in your pocket. If you'd like to discuss your options with us today, call (214) 651-6100 or email us using the contact form found on this page.