What is degloved face?

A degloved face, also known as facial avulsion, is a severe type of injury where a significant portion of the skin and underlying tissue of the face is traumatically separated from the underlying structures. This can involve the skin, subcutaneous fat, muscles, nerves, and sometimes even parts of the skull.

• Causes: Degloving injuries to the face are typically caused by high-energy trauma, such as:

  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Industrial accidents
  • Animal attacks
  • Falls

• Severity: The extent of a degloved face injury can vary widely. It can range from partial degloving involving smaller areas of the face to complete degloving encompassing the entire facial region.

• Treatment: Treatment usually involves complex reconstructive surgery which can include:

  • Debridement (cleaning and removing damaged tissue).
  • Skin grafts
  • Flap surgery (transferring skin and tissue from another part of the body)
  • Microsurgery (reconnecting blood vessels and nerves).

• Prognosis: The prognosis for a degloved face depends on the severity of the injury, the patient's overall health, and the quality of medical care received. Multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery period are usually necessary. Scarring and functional impairment are common, but reconstructive surgery aims to restore appearance and function as much as possible.