Negative pressure therapy in a scenario of distal femur fracture with internal degloving injury

Abstract

Internal degloving injuries are commonly seen in the pelvis. Similar lesions in the distal femur are rare. They cause a separation between the subcutaneous layer and deep fascia, which results in blood, lymph, necrosed fat and fluid collection in the space. They result in infection and soft tissue complications. Treatment options include conservative management with compression dressings, percutaneous aspiration, mini-incision drainage and sclerodesis. Here we describe a case of closed internal circumferential degloving injury of the distal thigh with a distal femur fracture treated by an innovative technique involving negative pressure therapy, internal fixation of the fracture and secondary skin grafting.