Use of Tissue Adhesive as a Field Expedient Barrier Dressing for Hand Wounds in Disaster Responders. Issue 1 (23rd December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Levy, Matthew J.; Tang, Nelson
• Is Part Of: Prehospital and disaster medicine. Volume 29:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 107
• Page End: 109
• Publication Date: 2013-12-23
• Subjects: disaster responder injuries, -- extended operations medical care, -- wound adhesive; Emergency medical services -- Periodicals; Emergency medicine -- Periodicals; Disaster medicine -- Periodicals; 616.025
• DOI: 10.1017/S1049023X13009205
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-023X

Abstract

Abstract: Injuries sustained by disaster responders can impede the affected individuals' ability to perform critical functions and often require the redirection of already scarce resources. Soft-tissue injuries to the hand are commonly experienced by disaster workers and even seemingly mild lacerations can pose the potential for significant complications in such hazard-filled environments. In this report, the authors describe their experience utilizing tissue adhesive to create a functional and effective barrier dressing for a hand injury sustained by a responder at the West, Texas USA fertilizer plant explosion. This technique of wound management allowed the patient to continue performing essential onsite functions for a sustained period following the explosion and the subsequent investigative processes. At the 30-day follow-up, the wound was well healed and without complications. This technique proved to be a valuable method of field expedient wound management and is worthy of consideration in similar future circumstances. MJ Levy, N Tang .Use of tissue adhesive as a field expedient barrier dressing for hand wounds in disaster responders .Prehosp Disaster Med .2014 ;29 (1 ):1 -3 .